Kai-Uwe Wellner, Simson Musante
Abstract
This paper explores publicly listed Hidden Champion companies in Germany and the United States and compares them by using a variety of financial and non-financial KPIs to gauge their relative success. Three companies are analysed in-depth from each country respectively. In Germany, there are the companies LPKF Laser & Electronics, Sto SE and Nordex. In the USA the companies are Intevac, Graham Corp and Tel-Instruments Electronics Corp. In order to compare the companies, a case study is used that analyses public companies and filters them down to a list of likely Hidden Champion companies. These companies were then scored with a “scorecard” that uses Hidden Champion academic literature to determine the possible success factors of Hidden Champions. Both countries have similarly successful Hidden Champions based on the research. A larger company sample size should be used in further research to create more robust conclusions on the possible success factor thresholds.