Markus Liebherr

Markus Liebherr (30 March 1948^[1] – 10 August 2010^[2]) was a German-born Swiss businessman and a member of one of Europe's top family business dynasties.

He was the son of the late Hans Liebherr, who started the company Liebherr, one of the world's leading manufacturers of construction machinery, set up over 60 years ago in Germany.

Markus was given equal shares in the German holding company in the 1980s when the business moved its management headquarters to Switzerland. He later handed most of his shares back to his family, and ran his own group of companies, the Mali Group, from 1994 until his death.

His holding company, DMWSL 613 Limited, bought English Football League side Southampton in July 2009, which took the club out of administration.

Liebherr died of a heart attack, on 10 August 2010.^[3][4]

MALI International AG

The Mali group contains five independent businesses, all belonging to the MALI Markus Liebherr International group whose head offices are in Fribourg, Switzerland.

● One of the companies is CRT Common Rail Technologies AG based in Beringen, Switzerland – a business concerning the ‘research and design of common rail systems’.

● Another of his companies is Mali Motan AG, also based in Beringen and concerning the ‘manufacturing and sales of CVT transmissions and common rail systems."

● A third company is the German-based BSG Bodensee Steuergeräte – its primary business being the ‘research, design, manufacturing and sales of electronic control units for common rail injection and transmissions."

● MALI Spezialfahrzeuge GmbH based in Eberhardzell, Germany, concerns ‘research and design transmission technology.’

● MALI Spezialfahrzeugbau GmbH, based in Elbe, Germany, deals with ‘research, design, manufacture and sale’ of offroad vehicles.

The group's website says: "Our ideology is dealing with the development of leading-edge products oriented at the market that follow technologically new ways and show ecologically a large potential."

Southampton Football Club

On 8 July 2009, 98 days after Southampton Leisure Holdings PLC, Southampton's former holding company, had been placed in administration under Begbies Traynor,^[5] Liebherr's bid to buy the club was successfully completed. The total amount he had paid has not been disclosed but it is believed to be around £13–15 million.^[6]

Liebherr appointed Nicola Cortese as Executive Chairman,^[7] and on 9 July Andy Oldknow as CEO.^[8]

In the first year of Liebherr's ownership, Southampton F.C. overcame a ten point deduction for going into administration to mount a late challenge for the play-offs, missing out by seven points. On 28 March 2010, Southampton won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Wembley Stadium.^[9]

In the 2010-11 season Southampton FC. were promoted from League 1 to the Championship. In 2011-12, having been no lower than 2nd position in the Championship all season they finished 2nd overall, just 1 point behind Champions Reading F.C.. On 28 April 2012 Southampton FC. were promoted to the Premier League having beaten Coventry 4-0 at home. With ownership of the football club having passed to his daughter, Katharina Liebherr, the Saints continue to compete in the Premier League in season 2013/14. Katharina replaced Cortese as chairman on 15 January 2014 after his resignation.^[10]

References

External links

• Markus Liebherr - The Independent Obituary - 27 August 2010