Client
Raiffeisen-Lagerhaus Waidhofen an der Thaya eGen (now part of Raiffeisen-Lagerhaus Oberes Waldviertel eGen) was a long-established cooperative with a diversified business model spanning agriculture, agricultural machinery, energy, building materials, and home & garden retail. Serving farmers, businesses, and local communities, the cooperative was one of the region’s most important economic partners in Austria’s Waldviertel region. As part of a strategic realignment, preparations were made for a merger with Raiffeisen-Lagerhaus Gmünd-Vitis to establish a new, stronger cooperative. The objective was to secure the organisation’s long-term economic future while strengthening its competitiveness and investment capacity. The merger ultimately resulted in the creation of Raiffeisen-Lagerhaus Oberes Waldviertel eGen.
Initial Situation
Raiffeisen-Lagerhaus Waidhofen an der Thaya faced the challenge of sustainably improving its financial performance while simultaneously laying the foundations for a strategic merger. Diverging developments across the various business divisions, combined with increasing demands for efficiency, competitiveness and investment capability, required a comprehensive business transformation. At the same time, the feasibility of merging with Raiffeisen-Lagerhaus Gmünd-Vitis had to be assessed, planned and prepared. An experienced interim executive was required to lead both the turnaround and the transformation process. Throughout the engagement, business continuity and operational leadership had to be ensured.
Project
VALTUS Management Factory appointed Rudolf Schwarz as Interim Managing Director to lead the cooperative’s business turnaround while preparing and driving the strategic merger. Working closely with the existing governance bodies, a comprehensive restructuring concept was developed, key improvement measures were defined and consistently implemented. In parallel, the interim management team was responsible for evaluating, planning and steering the entire merger project with Raiffeisen-Lagerhaus Gmünd-Vitis. All activities were closely coordinated with the relevant stakeholders, including RWA and the Raiffeisen Auditing Association. The successful execution of the project created the foundation for member approval and the establishment of the new cooperative.
Results
The successful business stabilisation and professional execution of the merger project resulted in the formation of Raiffeisen-Lagerhaus Oberes Waldviertel eGen. Members of both cooperatives approved the merger by a large majority at their respective General Assemblies. The newly established organisation brings together approximately 4,500 members, employs around 700 people across 21 locations, and generates annual revenues of approximately EUR 200 million. By combining their strengths, the two organisations created one of Austria’s strongest and most competitive agricultural cooperatives, securing long-term regional value creation and establishing a future-ready organisational structure.
Highlights
- Interim Managing Director with full responsibility for the business turnaround
- Development and implementation of a sustainable restructuring programme
- Strategic planning, evaluation and management of the merger project
- Close coordination with the Executive Board, Supervisory Board, RWA and the Raiffeisen Auditing Association
- Successful management of the entire decision-making and implementation process
- Establishment of Raiffeisen-Lagerhaus Oberes Waldviertel eGen
- Merger of two long-established cooperatives into one of Austria’s leading agricultural cooperative organisations
- New organisation with approximately 4,500 members, 700 employees, 21 locations, and annual revenues of around EUR 200 million