NEWS
Combining strengths
Fagerhult to acquire Lighting Innovations
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order to establish the Fagerhult Group in the South African market and in the Sub Saharan region, Fagerhult has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of Lighting Innovations based in Port Elisabeth, South Africa, including their subsidiary companies Beacon Lighting and Arrow Lighting. The acquisition is expected to have a positive effect on the earnings per share during 2016 and forward. The three companies have 210 employees and manufacture lighting fixtures and solutions primarily for the indoor commercial sector. Typi-
cal application areas include commercial offices, retail, hospitals and educational buildings. In the year ending June 2015, the companies had a combined sales of approximately €13 million. “One key element of our strategy is to increase our market position in emerging markets. With this acquisition we gain access to the South African market and several interesting growth opportunities within the dynamic Sub Saharan Africa region,” comments Johan Hjertonsson, CEO Fagerhult. Visit: www.fagerhult.se
Outotec takes over Kovit Engineering Limited
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utotec has acquired the Canadian based Kovit Engineering Limited from its founders. Kovit Engineering is one of the leading technical consulting and engineering companies specialising in surface and underground mine tailings solutions. Tailings are the materials left over after the process of separating the valuable fractions from the ore. The acquisition complements Outotec’s existing dewatering and tailings treatment solutions and services as well as strengthening Outotec’s position as a global provider of sustainable tailings management solutions. Kovit Engineering’s annual sales are some €5–10 million and its approximately 30 specialists in Sudbury, Canada, will transfer to Outotec. “Effective and safe disposal of mining wastes presents technical and environmental challenges. This acquisition of Kovit Engineering will further strengthen our position as a provider of sustainable and waterefficient tailings management solutions to the mining industry,” says Outotec CEO Pertti Korhonen. Visit: Visit: www.outotec.com
Alltech acquires two Norwegian companies
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lobal animal health and nutrition leader Alltech is actively expanding its European operations with acquisitions in the Norwegian cities of Førde and Bergen. Produs AS and Produs Aqua AS, both family-owned and operated with extensive experience in the Norwegian agriculture and aqua industries, have reached an acquisition agreement with Alltech. Produs and Produs Aqua are Alltech’s 9th and 10th acquisitions respectively, a development that will mean continued innovative, customised and quality products, programmes, services and on-farm consultation for customers in Norway, both on land and at sea. In addition, it will be supported by Alltech’s global and local team of scientists,
UPM and SEKAB in cooperation for forestry-based chemicals
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io- and forest industry company UPM is starting a major project aimed at demonstrating processes for the production of green chemical products using forest raw materials. SEKAB, the Swedish chemicals company, is contributing its technology to convert forest product residues into sugars and lignin. The EU
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nutritionists and marketing experts. The combined strengths of the companies will deliver the latest nutritional technologies to Norwegian producers, enabling them to become more efficient, sustainable and profitable. “We are taking this positive step into the future with Alltech because we believe their global resources, technology and innovative approach to both agriculture and aquaculture will strengthen the operations and profitability of our Norwegian customers,” said Magne Kolstad, chief financial officer, Produs and Produs Aqua. Visit: www.alltech.com
is investing €13 million in the project. “It’s fantastic that UPM is taking this initiative to create bio-based chemical products from a raw material that we have an abundance of in northern Europe, namely forests. We are proud to contribute to a project that could reduce oil dependency and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable society,” says Thore Lindgren, executive vice-president
of SEKAB E-Technology. The project is known as ValChem and it brings together expertise from companies in the forestry, chemicals and biotechnology industries. The aim is to demonstrate processes using by-products from our forests as the raw materials to produce chemical products contained in paints, coatings and personal-care items.
