Otto Happel

About Otto Happel

Birth Day: February 09, 1948
Birth Place: Luzerne, Switzerland, Germany
Residence: Lucerne, Switzerland
Alma mater: RWTH Aachen University
Spouse(s): married
Children: 6

Otto Happel

Otto Happel was born on February 09, 1948 in Luzerne, Switzerland, Germany. Otto Happel, who studied engineering at RWTH Aachen University, inherited his father's dust-removal business and turned it into thermal engineering firm GEA. In 1999, he sold his 50.1% stake in GEA to Germany's MG Technologies for around $775 million in cash and kept a 10% interest in the combined group (later increased to 21% via share purchases). In 2005 the company renamed itself the GEA Group. Happel cashed out in 2006, selling his remaining stake to institutional investors for approximately $700 million. In 2015, he attended the World Economic Forum in his role as chairman of the Swiss private wealth management firm Luserve AG. An enthusiastic sailor, he has a yacht named Hetairos and lives in Switzerland with his wife and six children. A foundation in his name supports projects in the developing world.
Otto Happel is a member of Construction & Engineering

Does Otto Happel Dead or Alive?

As per our current Database, Otto Happel is still alive (as per Wikipedia, Last update: May 10, 2020).

🎂 Otto Happel - Age, Bio, Faces and Birthday

Currently, Otto Happel is 76 years, 10 months and 15 days old. Otto Happel will celebrate 77rd birthday on a Sunday 9th of February 2025. Below we countdown to Otto Happel upcoming birthday.

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Popular As Otto Happel
Occupation Construction & Engineering
Age 75 years old
Zodiac Sign Pisces
Born February 09, 1948 (Luzerne, Switzerland, Germany)
Birthday February 09
Town/City Luzerne, Switzerland, Germany
Nationality Germany

🌙 Zodiac

Otto Happel’s zodiac sign is Pisces. According to astrologers, Pisces are very friendly, so they often find themselves in a company of very different people. Pisces are selfless, they are always willing to help others, without hoping to get anything back. Pisces is a Water sign and as such this zodiac sign is characterized by empathy and expressed emotional capacity.

🌙 Chinese Zodiac Signs

Otto Happel was born in the Year of the Rat. Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rat are quick-witted, clever, charming, sharp and funny. They have excellent taste, are a good friend and are generous and loyal to others considered part of its pack. Motivated by money, can be greedy, is ever curious, seeks knowledge and welcomes challenges. Compatible with Dragon or Monkey.

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Biography/Timeline

1974

In 1974, Happel became CEO of GEA Group, a small family Business established by his Father in 1920.

1989

Over the next 25 years, he transformed GEA into a global system supplier and introduced machinery and plants for the food processing industry, Energy industry, air-conditioning and refrigeration industry. After making over 70 acquisitions, GEA had over 200 subsidiaries in 60 countries. In 1989 he took his company public at the Frankfurt stock exchange, but kept the majority of the voting stock in the family. By 1999, Happel had increased GEA's revenues to over €2.56 billion, as well as its net earnings proportionally.

1993

Happel maintains his family office Luserve AG in Lucerne, Switzerland. He served as a member of the supervisory board at Commerzbank from May 1993 until April 2013.

1999

In 1999 he sold his controlling stake to Germany’s MG Technologies, became the major shareholder of MG Technologies and, once MG Technologies was merged into GEA Group AG, sold his remaining stake to institutional Investors in 2006. GEA Group AG is the largest listed German machinery manufacturer and is broadly Diversified. In 2016, it accounted for revenues of approximately EUR 4,5 bn and employed approximately 17,000 people.

2017

As of March 2017, Forbes estimated his net worth at US$2.7 billion.

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