GEA Group AG

M&A Activity • Apr 7, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 7 April 2009 11:20

GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft: GEA Group acquires DB Wilaard Holding BV

GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft / Mergers & Acquisitions

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Bochum/Bönen, April 7, 2009 - GEA Group AG continues its expansion strategy
towards a total solutions provider in livestock farming through the
acquisition of DB Wilaard Holding BV with its main brands 'Royal De Boer'
and 'Brouwers', leading manufacturer of barn equipment in Europe. The
company is headquartered in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, and in 2008 generated
revenues of approx. EUR 40 million with a workforce of 160 employees. The
acquisition includes Wilarus LLC, founded in 2004 as the sales and
production facility for Russia and other CIS states. The acquisition is
subject to the approval of the Russian antitrust authorities.

'A strategically important acquisition, enlarging our customer and product
base and geographical presence', says Dirk Hejnal, CEO of GEA Farm
Technologies Division. 'After the acquisitions of Houle and Norbco in North
America, we have now complemented our strategic approach for the barn
equipment segment in Europe and in Russia. The Wilaard Group has a proven
international reputation for excellence in the design and manufacture of
livestock housing.'

Since 1869, Royal De Boer Barn Equipment, the oldest subsidiary within the
Wilaard Group, has expanded the horizons of animal housing. It has
successfully set benchmarks and modern standards in animal housing.
Together with Brouwers Equipment, founded in 1919, it has been playing a
leading role in Dutch livestock farming for decades. GEA Farm Technologies
will continue the well known, high quality premium brands Royal De Boer and
Brouwers, being dedicated to grow the barn equipment and manure handling
product lines globally out of the Wilaard Group headquarters and
manufacturing facility Wilarus in Kolomna in Russia.

'We are confident to have chosen the right partner for the Wilaard Group to
continue the long term success story of Wilaard', says Jan S. Zeinstra the
main shareholder of the Wilaard Group. 'The Wilaard Group is recognized for
its vision and product quality in the agricultural sector. As a part of GEA
Farm Technologies, we are even stronger and better equipped to meet the
accelerating and changing demands in the global market.'

GEA Farm Technologies Division with its main office in Bönen, Germany is a
worldwide leading manufacturer of technical innovations, integrated product
solutions and effective animal hygiene products for a cost-efficient milk
production. Manure technology and barn equipment round up the profile as a
system provider for all farm sizes. The division had a total of about 2,000
employees worldwide as of December 31, 2008.

GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft is one of the largest pure mechanical
engineering groups in Germany. As an internationally operating technology
group, it concentrates on specialty mechanical engineering with a focus on
process technology and components. Group revenue amounted to EUR 5.2
billion in fiscal year 2008. The Group generated about 50 percent of this
revenue from the high-growth food manufacturing and beverages industries.
As of December 31, 2008, a workforce of over 21,000 employees served
customers in 50 countries. GEA Group is a market and technology leader in
90 percent of its business areas. GEA Group is listed in the MDAX index
(G1A, WKN 660200).
07.04.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

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Language: English
Issuer: GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft
Dorstener Straße 484
44809 Bochum
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)234 980-0
Fax: +49 (0)234 980-1004
E-mail: investor.relations@geagroup.com
Internet: www.geagroup.com
ISIN: DE0006602006
WKN: 660200
Indices: MDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Berlin, Frankfurt (Prime Standard),
Düsseldorf, Hamburg, München; Freiverkehr in Hannover,
Stuttgart

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