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Linking up Combining strengths
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Combining strengths
Saab and ThyssenKrupp sign MoU
ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG, a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp AG, and Saab AB have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding concerning the sale of the Swedish shipyard ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AB (formerly named Kockums) with operations in Malmö, Karlskrona and Muskö to Saab AB.
Both parties agree that during the negotiations phase, the integrity and the operating ability of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AB must be safeguarded.
The Memorandum of Understanding is in line with Saab’s ambition to expand its activities in the naval area and meets the needs of Sweden for an industrial solution regarding design, production and maintenance of submarines and warships. An acquisition of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems AB will enable Saab to meet this ambition.
Saab serves the global market with worldleading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Visit: www.saabgroup.com Trelleborg has, through its business area Trelleborg Industrial Solutions, signed an agreement to acquire the privately owned Superlas Group. The company develops and manufactures industrial hoses for a range of industries, such as construction and civil engineering, processing, industrial cleaning and tanker transportation. The acquisition consolidates Trelleborg’s market leading position in industrial hoses.
Superlas has manufacturing facilities in Turkey and sales offices in Austria and the UK. Sales are global and in 2013 amounted to about SEK 400 million. The transaction forms part of Trelleborg’s strategy to strengthen its positions in selected attractive market segments.
“The acquired operation is a major manufacturer of medium/low pressure industrial hoses and one of the world’s largest in mandrel-build hoses. Superlas Group offers a product range that complements Trelleborg’s product portfolio very well. By combining these offers, we create favourable opportunities for further geographic expansion, particularly in North America and Asia while strengthening our market position in general,” says Mikael Fryklund, president of the Trelleborg Industrial Solutions business area. Visit: www.superlas.com
Holcim and Lafarge have announced their intention to combine the two companies through a merger of equals, unanimously approved by their respective board of directors and fully supported by the core shareholders of both companies.
This new global company with European roots would deliver compelling benefits for all stakeholders. LafargeHolcim would be in the best position to contribute to addressing the challenges of urbanisation: affordable housing, urban sprawl and transport. The new group would increase its offer to customers through innovation delivered on an expanded scale, best in class R&D and a combined portfolio of solutions and products. Both companies have pioneered sustainability and climate change mitigation in the industry and are committed to take it to the next level.
LafargeHolcim would have an enhanced presence in the global building materials sector with a number one position globally across cement, concrete and aggregates and new opportunities to optimise production and commercial networks.
After a strategic optimisation of the portfolio through a pro-active divestment process, in anticipation of regulatory requirements, LafargeHolcim would occupy complementary positions. Combined operations would include production sites located in 90 countries across all continents with the most balanced and diversified portfolio in the industry. Visit: www.lafarge.com
Superlas acquired by Trelleborg
A merger of equals to create LafargeHolcim
ERIKS acquires Maagtechnic Group
ON 11 February 2014, ERIKS announced having reached an agreement with Datwyler to acquire all shares of the Maagtechnic Group. This acquisition was finalised successfully on 1 April 2014.
The Maagtechnic Group is a leading European industrial service provider, serving OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) as well as MRO (Maintenance Repair Overhaul) with operating companies in Switzerland, France, Germany and the Czech Republic. Maagtechnic is active in the distribution, manufacturing, customising and engineering of the following competences: Sealing, rubber and plastics technology; flow and connection technology; power transmission and drive technology; tools, maintenance and safety products; and logistics and e-business solutions.
With approximately 580 employees, Maagtechnic realised sales of around CHF 150 million in 2013.
ERIKS is a leading international service provider offering a wide range of engineering components and related technical and logistics services. Visit: www.eriks.com
LINKINGUP
Outotec has acquired the business and IPRs of Republic Alternative Technologies Inc., a premium coated titanium anode engineering and fabrication company based in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. The acquisition complements Outotec’s offerings for sustainable electrowinning plants and supports the company’s strategy to grow its service business through providing life-cycle solutions to the customers.
Republic Alternative Technologies is the world’s first producer of innovative mixed metal oxide coated titanium anodes, which are used as an alternative to conventional lead anodes in electrowinning operations to produce copper, zinc and other metals. Thanks to low cell voltage, these coated titanium anodes consume 7 to15% less energy than conventional lead anodes. They are currently used in industrial copper electrowinning plants in Arizona, New Mexico and South America. Republic Alternative Technologies has 18 employees and its sales in 2013 were approximately €9 million. Outotec plans to commercialise the application of coated titanium anodes also in zinc and nickel electrowinning processes and believes that the business has substantial growth potential worldwide. Visit: www.outotec.com
Alfa Laval acquires Frank Mohn AS
Alfa Laval has signed an agreement to acquire Frank Mohn AS, a leading manufacturer of submerged pumping systems to the marine and offshore markets. The acquisition, which strengthens Alfa Laval’s fluid handling portfolio by adding a unique pumping technology, will further reinforce Alfa Laval’s position as a leading supplier to the marine and offshore oil & gas markets.
Alfa Laval has agreed to acquire Frank Mohn AS, with the product brand Framo, for a total cash consideration of NOK 13 billion, from Wimoh AS, a company controlled by the Mohn family. Frank Mohn, headquartered in Bergen, Norway and with approximately 1200 employees, generated sales of NOK 3.4 billion and had an order intake of NOK 6.1 billion in 2013. The operating margin is significantly above the Alfa Laval average.
“Frank Mohn is an excellent company that we have been following closely for several years. It has highly skilled employees, high quality products and a market-leading position within segments offering attractive long-term growth prospects,” says Lars Renström, president and CEO of the Alfa Laval Group. Visit: www.alfalaval.com
Williams Grand Prix Engineering sells Williams Hybrid Power to GKN
Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC is pleased to announce today the sale of Williams Hybrid Power Limited from Williams’ subsidiary, Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited, to GKN Land Systems Limited in a multi-million pound transaction. This will see Williams Hybrid Power rebranded as GKN Hybrid Power.
GKN has agreed to purchase the whole of the issued share capital of Williams Hybrid Power Limited from Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited. Under the terms of the transaction, Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited will also receive additional consideration based on future sales and licences of the flywheel energy storage technology transferred with Williams Hybrid Power to GKN. Williams Hybrid Power has been majority owned by Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited since 2010, and is a clean technology SME developing electric flywheel energy storage technology.
Speaking about the agreement with GKN Mike O’Driscoll, Group CEO of Williams, said: “The Williams Hybrid Power business has been developed very successfully over the last few years, and is now at the point of broader market commercialisation. GKN have the resources and expertise to fully realise the enormous potential of the motorsport proven flywheel technology, primarily within a variety of public transport applications.” Visit: www.williamsf1.com
Chocolat Frey AG acquires SweetWorks Inc.
Swiss company Chocolat Frey has acquired a majority of the stock of SweetWorks, Inc. retroactively as of 1 January 2014. Headquartered in Buffalo, SweetWorks operates a production plant in Buffalo, New York, with approximately 200 employees, and also owns a subsidiary, Oak Leaf Confections Co., in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that employs around 250 workers. SweetWorks will continue to operate as an independent group of companies.
SweetWorks and Chocolat Frey pursue comparable business models with the production of high quality chocolate and chewing gum. The assortment structures of the two companies complement each other strategically. Mutual synergies can be found along the entire value chain.
All of the North American market activities of Chocolat Frey and SweetWorks will be combined under a single management. With the acquisition, Chocolat Frey is strengthening its market presence in the United States and Canada. Visit: www.chocolatfrey.com
