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Linking up Combining strengths
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Combining strengths
BASF and Atlas Copco join forces
BASF and Atlas Copco have signed an agreement to cooperate on sprayed concrete technology and expertise for tunneling and mining, following the sale of BASF’s MEYCO Equipment business to Atlas Copco. “BASF’s expert knowledge in chemical solutions for sprayed concrete together with Atlas Copco’s global expertise in underground tunneling and mining equipment will drive the optimisation of sprayed concrete application,” said Daniel Ruckstuhl, vice-president and head of BASF’s Global Underground Construction business. “The cooperation between the two market leaders creates a globally unmatched partnership to further develop sprayed concrete chemistry and equipment technology. This joint effort is formed to enable high performance solutions supporting safety and cost and time efficiency in tunneling and mining projects. We are pleased to announce this cooperation and look forward to working together,” he added.
The demand for high quality, durable sprayed concrete which offers greater safety and reduces health risks and negative impact on the environment in tunneling and mining is ever increasing. Visit: www.basf.com
Trelleborg strengthens position in offshore oil & gas
Trelleborg has, through its business area Trelleborg Offshore & Construction, signed an agreement and finalised the acquisition of the UK company Ambler Technologies Ltd. The company develops and produces composite materials that create strictly specified buoyancy and insulation properties in applications used primarily in deep-sea environments. The acquisition provides Trelleborg with access to cutting-edge expertise and expanded production capacity of strategically important components. It also strengthens Trelleborg’s position in oil and gas exploration and extraction, particularly in buoyancy modules for Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs).
The company’s head office and production facility are located outside the city of Manchester, UK. Net sales in 2012 amounted to approximately SEK 50 M with good profitability.
“With a focus on customer-centric development, we are moving in the direction of increasingly engineered polymer solutions with a higher technology and knowledge content. The acquired operation commands unique expertise and experience in composite materials that complement our global offering, primarily in the exploration and extraction of oil and gas in deep-sea environments, but also in other interesting segments,” says Fredrik Meuller, president of the Trelleborg Offshore & Construction business area. Visit: www.trelleborg.com
Dassault Systèmes acquires FE-DESIGN
Dassault Systèmes has announced the acquisition of FE-DESIGN Group, a leader in design optimisation for early-stage product development. The acquisition of FE-DESIGN, based in Karlsruhe, Germany, expands Dassault Systèmes’ SIMULIA applications to provide the most complete design optimisation solution on the market. With more than 200 global product manufacturer customers, including General Motors, BMW, SIEMENS, and Suzlon, FE-DESIGN is the technology leader for non-parametric optimisation solutions in both the structural and fluids-based domains.
In a rapidly growing market, design exploration and optimisation techniques are becoming essential to balance the demands of product performance against resource efficiency and time to market constraints. FE-DESIGN’s products will enhance Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform and its ability to automate the process of simulating the right design more quickly and more efficiently. Visit: www.3ds.com
Snam, GIC and EDF sign definitive agreement with Total
The Consortium constituted by Snam, the Italian gas transport and storage operator (45%), GIC, the Singaporean sovereign fund (35%), and EDF (20%, through its dedicated assets for the dismantling of nuclear plants), has entered into a definitive agreement with the Total group for the acquisition of its gas transport and storage business in the SouthWest of France – TIGF (Transport et Infrastructures Gaz France).
TIGF represents a strategic platform for the interconnection of the European gas markets, thus contributing to their further liquidity and guaranteeing security of supplies to France and Europe. Based in Pau and locally managed, TIGF employs approximately 500 persons and operates a 5000km-long gas pipeline network and two important gas storage sites in Lussagnet and Izaute.
Carlo Malacarne, Snam’s CEO and Thomas Piquemal, member of EDF’s executive committee and Group CFO, stated: “Today’s agreement marks an important milestone towards the acquisition of TIGF by the Consortium.” Visit: www.edf.com
LINKINGUP
E.ON and Sabanci begin strategic partnership in Turkey
E.ON SE, Düsseldorf, has closed its acquisition of 50% of Enerjisa Enerji AS from Viennabased Verbund AG, completing the asset-swap agreement the two companies signed in December 2012. In return, Verbund acquired E.ON’s interest in a number of hydropower stations in Bavaria. E.ON and its strategic partner Sabanci, a major Turkish conglomerate that owns the other 50% of Enerjisa, will now work together to realise their ambitious plan for Enerjisa which reflects the shareholders’ strong commitment to the Turkish market.
E.ON CEO Johannes Teyssen said: “This marks another important milestone in E.ON’s development as a global energy solutions company. By finalising the acquisition of a stake in an established and successful power company with nearly 2 gigawatts already in operation, we’ve given E.ON a significant market position in Turkey, which is one of our target growth markets. This confirms E.ON’s strategic belief in the growing Turkish market and our faith in Enerjisa as a strong player in this market.” Visit: www.eon.com
ABB to acquire Power-One
ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, and Power-One, Inc., a leading provider of renewable energy and of energy-efficient power conversion and power management solutions, today announced that their boards of directors have agreed to a transaction in which ABB will acquire Power-One for $6.35 per share in cash or $1028 million equity value.
The transaction would position ABB as a leading global supplier of solar inverters – the ‘intelligence’ behind a solar PV system – to a market forecasted by the International Energy Agency to grow by more than 10% per year until 2021. This rapid growth is being driven by rising energy demand, especially in emerging markets, rising electricity prices and declining costs.
“Solar PV is becoming a major force reshaping the future energy mix because it is rapidly closing in on grid parity,” said ABB’s CEO, Joe Hogan. “Power-One is a well-managed company and is highly regarded as a technology innovator focusing on the most attractive and intelligent solar PV product. The combination of Power-One and ABB is fully in line with our 2015 strategy and would create a global player with the scale to compete successfully and create value for customers, employees and shareholders.” Visit: www.abb.com
Alstom and Soyuz join forces in Russia
Alstom Grid and Soyuz Holding have signed a joint venture agreement to manufacture and commercialise high voltage switchgear as part of ongoing efforts to modernise the Russian electrical grid. The joint venture will be owned 51% by Alstom Grid and 49% by Soyuz Holding and will be part of Alstom’s worldwide industrial organisation, benefiting from its industrial knowhow and technological expertise.
It is a key milestone for Alstom Grid to address the Russian market, with its increasingly localised production of equipment for electricity transmission. The manufacturing deal includes the continued manufacture of 110–220 kV circuit breakers and an extension of the range up to 500 kV. It also foresees the introduction of a wider range of products, including disconnectors and gas insulated substations. This equipment will be produced at Soyuz’s ‘High Voltage Switchgear Factory’ at Mozhaisk, near Moscow.
This range of products, designed to cope with severe climate conditions, will contribute to the significant upgrade undertaken by Russia of its electricity transmission and distribution system, spanning over 2.1 million kilometres across the country. Visit: www.alstom.com
Telenor has signed an agreement with OTE to acquire Bulgarian mobile operator Globul for a total amount of €717 million on a cash and debt free basis. Globul is the second largest mobile operator in Bulgaria with 4.5 million subscribers and a market share of 36%. The transaction also includes Germanos Bulgaria, the leading telecom retailer in the country operationally integrated with Globul.
“Based on our experience in Telenor’s well-performing operations in the region, we strongly believe that we will be able to create value in the Bulgarian market. By contributing with our scale and experience to Globul’s competence and market knowledge, we can offer even better quality and more advanced services to Bulgarian customers,” says Jon Fredrik Baksaas, president and CEO of the Telenor Group.
Telenor Group is currently present in Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro. The company is a leader in terms of mobile revenue share in Serbia and Montenegro. Globul has been present in Bulgaria since 2001. Visit: www.telenor.com
