Gütersloh, 01/17/2020

Bertelsmann Invested €72 Million In Gütersloh In 2019

In the past financial year (2019), Bertelsmann further strengthened its Gütersloh-based businesses with investments totaling €72 million. In addition, Bertelsmann supported some 300 organizations, clubs, and projects in the East Westphalia-Lippe region with around €285,000 of sponsorship and in-kind donations including more than 6,000 books.

In the 2019 financial year, Bertelsmann further strengthened its Gütersloh-based businesses with investments totaling €72 million, maintaining the high level set in previous years. During the same period, Bertelsmann also supported some 300 organizations, clubs, and projects in East Westphalia-Lippe with around €285,000 of sponsorship and, among other things, more than 6,000 donated books. Thomas Rabe, Chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann, said: “2019 was a special year for Bertelsmann in many ways. Last May, we presented the revised version of our corporate values at our Management Meeting at the Gütersloh Theater. This was followed in December by the announcement of the complete acquisition of Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade publishing group. The book business is part of Bertelsmann’s identity and has its origins in Gütersloh. Gütersloh will remain Bertelsmann’s home and of central importance to us as an international Group.”

Around 11,000 people work for Bertelsmann in the Gütersloh area, more than at any other location in the world. In August, 107 new apprentices and dual-study course students began training at Bertelsmann. In the past financial year, the company supported numerous schools and kindergartens, and at Christmas, instead of giving Christmas gifts to its business partners, Bertelsmann once again donated €25,000 to the Bielefeld palliative care initiative “Der Weg nach Hause” (The Way Home) – for the 13th consecutive year. Another highlight in the 2019 events calendar was the Blue Sofa with author Elke Heidenreich at the Gütersloh Theater.

In 2020, Bertelsmann will once again be an active local citizen and make a contribution to community. Current plans include a repeat of the successful “Toggo Tour” on Berliner Platz on August 8 and 9, 2020. 2018 was the first time that Super RTL’s tour, which is very popular with children and young people, made a stop in Gütersloh. At the time, about 40,000 people visited Gütersloh city center over two days.