40 years after listing on the German stock markets, leading independent supplier of lubricant solutions, Fuchs SE, has celebrated its rise to becoming a global player.

The company was founded in Mannheim, Germany as a family business in 1931. It first listed shares on the Stuttgart and Frankfurt stock exchanges in 1985 before going on to achieve around 5 billion euros in market capitalisation today. It now claims to be the world’s biggest independent manufacturer of lubricants like gear oil and hydraulic oil.

The celebration took place on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange trading floor with a ceremonial ringing of the bell. It was attended by members of the executive and supervisory boards, Fuchs family members and former board members. The latter included two key players in the pivotal 1985 IPO: former CFO Dr. Gerhard Vogel and former CEO Dr. Manfred Fuchs, who guided the company for 41 years. Since going public, the company has consistently generated profits and paid dividends to its shareholders.

Fuchs’ CEO, Stefan Fuchs, said the company’s remarkable continuity reflected its enduring commitment to creating value sustainably, adding:

“We are proud to always keep both the requirements of the capital market and the principles of good corporate governance in equal focus. We have proven that these are not contradictory. Our independent supervisory board plays a central role in this and contributes significantly to our successful governance.”

He added that the company’s independence, and therefore protection from takeovers, was assured by the continuing involvement of the Fuchs family.