50 year-old Markus Würth has been reunited with his family after being kidnapped and held overnight on Wednesday.

Police had asked media to observe a blackout after they found out about the kidnapping.

Markus was taken from a home for people with mental disorders in Schlitz, northeast of Frankfurt. Bild reported that the kidnappers demanded a sum over €2m for his return.

His father is a well known businessman, who took over his father’s wholesale screw business when he was 19.

The Würth company is worth billions, with annual profits of around €10bn.

The Würth family called police to report Markus missing when he didn’t show up for lunch.

Police then began an intensive search involving 40 police officers, 50 firefighters and sniffer dogs.

Bild reported that the perpetrators tied him to a tree before revealing his location in GPS coordinates and disappearing on Thursday. Police believe the kidnappers may have lost their nerve, as the family had not paid them any money as a ransom.

Markus was found nearly 100km from where he was snatched. Once he was safe, the media blackout was lifted to aid in the manhunt for the perpetrators.

Police have appealed for witnesses and are searching for the van used during the kidnapping.