German THYSSENKRUPP has officially launched a purchase bid on ATEC (automobile equipment and heavy engineering) for which it proposes EUR 8.75 billion. The acquisition concerns the subsidiaries VDO, SACHS, DEMATIC, DEMAG KRAUSS-MAFFEI and REXROTH. The merger would give birth to an entity whose turnover would reach EUR 43 billion (30 billion for THYSSENKRUPP and 13 for ATECS). See EI of 25 March.