Opcon acquires remaining 25% of Saxlund International GmbH in Germany
Opcon, the energy and environmental technology group, has acquired the remaining 25% of shares in Saxlund International GmbH, of Soltau, Germany, to give Opcon 100% ownership of the company. The acquisition also means that Opcon increases its ownership in Saxlund International Ltd of Southampton, UK, and Saxlund International Corp, USA, from 79.5% to 90%. Both the UK and German companies made a profit in the past year. The American company is dormant.
The purchase sum is around EUR 3.4 million (around SEK 31 million), which was mainly financed through an advance payment of the guaranteed capital in Opcon’s current preferential share issue.
Saxlund International GmbH has 39 employees and over the past three financial years, running June-June, had average annual sales turnover of EUR 13 million (around SEK 120 million) with an average operating margin of around 10%. The orders situation has strengthened significantly over the past financial year and has continued to improve during the summer.
The purpose of the acquisition is to make it easier for Opcon to expand on the growing European market and increase integration within the Renewable Energy business area where a major restructuring and savings programme has been launched for the Swedish operations. In Germany, Saxlund International GmbH is expected to capitalise on the transformation of the energy sector in Germany following the decision in 2011 by the German government to decommission nuclear energy. The company also foresees good global growth opportunities for its sludge handling equipment for treatment plants.
“Saxlund in Germany has been a strong part of Opcon that has continued making a profit throughout the financial crisis. This acquisition is a further step in our work aimed at creating a stronger international organization that can offer a wider product portfolio quoting for, and performing, major projects. It is also an important advance in the increased integration and improved efficiency of our activities both within bioenergy and within Waste Heat Recovery where we can capitalise on the large opportunities we are seeing on the international stage,” says Rolf Hasselström, President and CEO of Opcon.
For further information, please contact:
Niklas Johansson, vice president, Investor Relations, tel. +46 8 466 45 00, +46 70 592 54 53
Opcon AB, Box 15085, SE-104 65 Stockholm, Sweden
Tel. +46 8 466 45 00, fax +46 8 716 76 61
e-mail: info@opcon.se
www.opcon.se
The Opcon Group
Opcon is an energy and environmental technology Group that develops, produces and markets systems and products for eco-friendly, efficient and resource-effective use of energy.
Opcon has activities in Sweden, China, Germany and the UK. There are around 400 employees. The company’s shares are listed on Nasdaq OMX Stockholm. The Group comprises two business areas:
Renewable Energy focuses on the following areas: electricity generation based on waste heat, bioenergy-powered heating and CHP plants, pellets plants, drying of biomass, handling systems for biomass, sludge and natural gas, industrial cooling, flue gas condensation, treatment of flue gases, air systems for fuel cells and measurement and monitoring of processes.
Engine Efficiency focuses on energy-efficient solenoid technology and ignition systems for combustion engines including ethanol, natural gas and biogas engines.
NB
This press release contains information that Opcon AB (publ) is obliged to make publicly known in accordance with Swedish law concerning the securities markets and/or Swedish law concerning trading in financial instruments. This information was submitted for publication on Friday 30 September 2011 at 8.40 a.m. (CET).
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