On May 9, 2011, the Business Times Singapore published an article following an interview between Chairman Heinrich Jessen, Executive Vice Chairman Fritz Graf von der Schulenburg and Ms Lynn Kan, a local journalist, late last April. Read a summary of the article below.
On rapid expansion path
It aims to double revenue over 5 years through acquisitions and organic growth
Jebsen & Jessen (SEA), one of South-east Asia's old, established family-owned businesses, may have gotten older and bigger over the generations - but creaky and clunky it is not.
The industrial conglomerate is vigorous with its plans of change...The intention is to double our revenue over the next five years, and we've chosen to do it through acquisitions and organic growth,' chairman Heinrich Jessen told the paper in an interview.
The acquisitions strategy was taken in 2010, when key leaders of the $1 billion business stepped down or were planning to. JJSEA hasn't dawdled on its plans. In the past year, it put its war chest of $250 million - to span over five years - to work, adding several companies to its existing stable of holdings.
Investments untertaken to date include a chemical distributor in Thailand, food & beverage packaging in Malaysia, cable manufacturer in Indonesia and material handling company in Taiwan.
JJSEA hasn't lost its sense of adventure. Most recently it has ventured into Cambodia and Myanmar to tap on the high growth margins of these fledgling markets. Executive vice-chairman Fritz Graf von der Schulenburg added that the group is considering new areas to invest in, too.