Change of ownership at SABO: Mutares succeeds John Deere

SABO sets course for the future
SABO Maschinenfabrik GmbH is changing its ownership from Deere & Company (John Deere, NYSE:DE) to Mutares SE & Co. KGaA. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of July 2020.

SABO is one of the leading brands for high-quality lawn mowers and garden care products in Europe. The company has been based and produced in Gummersbach, Germany, since 1932 and has been part of Deere & Company since 1991.

Mutares is a private investment company based in Munich that specializes in the acquisition and management of medium-sized companies. Mutares currently owns 13 companies in three industry segments: Automotive & Mobility, Engineering & Technology and Goods & Services.

SABO will retain its workforce, brand, production site and portfolio of walk-behind lawn mowers and portable garden tools. The company will continue to supply its customers in Germany and other European countries with high-quality products and services. For employees, customers, suppliers and sales partners, there will be little change in day-to-day business.

According to Tim Merrett, Vice President John Deere Turf and Utility, SABO is one of the leading brands for high-quality lawn mowers and walk-behind garden tools in Europe. The company is particularly well positioned with its broad portfolio of high-performance battery systems. Nevertheless, as part of the recently announced “Smart Industrial” strategy, John Deere intends to focus more strongly on central production systems. Future investments in walk-behind mowers no longer represent a strategic fit.

Johannes Laumann, CIO of Mutares is pleased with the addition of SABO to the Goods & Services division and welcomes the SABO employees to the Mutares family. SABO is a very well-known brand in the garden and outdoor market. Laumann is convinced that Mutares is the best choice as new owner to drive SABO’s growth due to its proven expertise and operational experience. Mutares has very ambitious targets in terms of growth and speed, as they are currently successfully demonstrating with the keeeper Group. Mutares is determined to successfully realize SABO’s potential.
Company profile of SABO Maschinenfabrik GmbH
SABO is one of the leading brands for high-quality lawn mowers and garden care products for private and commercial customers in Europe. The company has been based in Gummersbach, Germany, since 1932 and has been a subsidiary of Deere & Company since 1991. The company employs around 125 people and has a fully integrated development center and various testing facilities at its production site.

SABO’s comprehensive product portfolio is complemented by a wide range of spare parts. SABO sells its products through an extensive distribution network of more than 1100 specialized dealers in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Switzerland as well as through its own online store.

SABO looks back on a long tradition and expertise as a manufacturer of hand-held lawn mowers and enjoys an excellent reputation as a leading supplier of quality products with the “Made in Germany” seal. The company’s products are known for their durability.

New management at SABO

Mutares SE & Co KGaA (ISIN: DE000A2NB650) signed an agreement to acquire SABO Maschinenfabrik GmbH in June 2020. The transaction is expected to be completed on September 1, 2020.

Prior to the closing of the transaction, the previous SABO Managing Director Mr. Christoph Büscher has decided to hand over the management of SABO Maschinenfabrik GmbH as of 31.08.2020 and to devote himself to a new challenge. The company would like to expressly thank Mr. Büscher for his work over the past years. Upon completion of the transaction, Mr. Fatmir Veselaj from Mutares will take over the management as an interim solution. Over the next few months, the new management will drive forward the restructuring of the company with the support and expertise of the Mutares consulting team and in close cooperation with the local employees and, together with all partners, set the course for sustainable growth of the brand.

Quality for professionals – SABO made in Germany

Whether it’s a cold winter or a wet spring, a steep slope or rough terrain: professional work in the garden follows its own rules. Efficient lawn mowers that are easy to use and remain loyal to the garden professional for many years thanks to their high quality are essential.

Premium manufacturer SABO has been meeting the challenges of everyday professional life for over 60 years. The Gummersbach-based company offers lawn mowers and mulching mowers with petrol engines as well as a battery system that also ranges from lawn mowers, brush cutters and hedge trimmers to leaf blowers. SABO relies on the environmentally and user-friendly battery technology from Bosch. All professional tools are equipped for long-term use and impress with the highest quality – the garden professional decides when it’s time to call it a day, not the machine.
Put through its paces
Before a SABO prototype is ready for series production, it has to successfully pass a large number of tests. These tests ensure that the machines are up to the challenges of day-to-day outdoor use. The vibrating grate test, for example, simulates driving the mower on very uneven terrain. The solid metal wheels of the professional mowers from Gummersbach ensure the high load-bearing capacity made by SABO. In the ball impact test, steel balls are shot into the running blade of the mower to test the material strength of the blade and chassis. Thanks to such test procedures, it can be ensured that gardeners and landscapers can work with the appliances for many years.
Power for long working days
Thanks to the high quality requirements that SABO places on its own equipment, it is both durable and designed for a long working day. For example, a 4,000 m2 meadow can be easily conquered with a SABO professional mower: The petrol mowers with a 6-liter tank capacity, for example, mow for up to eight hours at a time. And the environmentally friendly alternative also has power: a lawn area of 1,500 m2 can be mowed on a single charge of a SABO Profi cordless mower. Thanks to the exchangeable battery in the bag, almost uninterrupted work is guaranteed. In the meantime, the flexible, location-independent and mains-independent power unit ensures that the discharged battery is fully recharged within 42 minutes.
Comfort and safety for enduring professionals
SABO mowers have the necessary power for a long working day and are also equipped with important gadgets that make the machine extremely easy to use. For example, the guide bar of the petrol mower can be adjusted to your height in just a few simple steps. In addition, almost all SABO professional models are equipped with the AVS™ anti-vibration system as standard, which minimizes vibrations during operation and enables continuous use. SABO cordless mowers are also inherently low-vibration.

The practical engine brake on the SABO 54-PRO K VARIO B PLUS petrol mower also ensures comfortable and safe working: When the safety bar is released, the blade stops within seconds while the engine of the petrol mower continues to run. With drive assistance, the drive to empty the collection bag is possible without great effort. The SABO 47 PRO and 54 PRO rear discharge mowers are equipped with TurboStar™ technology so that the garden professional only has to empty the collection bag as rarely as possible: The dry or damp clippings are completely conveyed into the collection bag via a separate fan. This ensures that the bag is always optimally filled and only needs to be emptied when it is really full.

With the practical accessories, a professional rear discharge mower or cordless mower can be quickly converted into a mulching mower. This gives gardeners and landscapers two machines in one.

For very winding lawns, the cordless brushcutters provide the final cut. Once the work on the lawn is done, the hedge trimmers come into play. The three models with robust magnesium housing differ in their cutting length and tooth opening and are therefore suitable for either fine or rough hedge trimming. To save yourself a little work, you can now use the leaf blower with its two different nozzles after the hedge trimmer. With a blowing force of up to 17 N, the clippings are quickly piled up and can be removed.