EANS-News: German Pellets Takes Over Austrian "Hot´ts" Group
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Mergers - Acquisitions - Takeovers
Subtitle: German pellet producer further expands its market position in Austria
by acquiring Hotts Holzpellets
Wismar / Mattighofen (euro adhoc) - With retroactive effect as of 1 January
2012, German Pellets GmbH, based in Wismar, Germany, has taken over the Austrian
company Glechner, with headquarters in Mattighofen. The acquisition includes
three production sites, the brand "Hot´ts Holzpellets" and the company´s direct
sales division for wood pellets.
The Glechner Group is one of Austria´s leading wood-pellet manufacturers and
distributors. "Hot´ts" is the second most popular wood-pellet brand in Austria,
after the German Pellets brand "FireStixx", and also has a significant market
share in the neighbouring region of Lower Bavaria.
In 2012 the Glechner Group expects to generate a turnover of approx. 15 million
euros. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. "The
acquisition of Hot´ts Holzpellets, one of Austria´s wood-pellet pioneers as well
as a profitable company with an outstanding position in the end-consumer market,
is an excellent opportunity for us," said Peter H. Leibold, managing partner of
German Pellets GmbH.
With the takeover, German Pellets is increasing its market share in the
important sales regions of Upper Austria, Salzburg and Lower Austria by about 50
per cent. For the Wismar-based pellet manufacturer, this is an important
strategic step for continued expansion in the Central European pellet market.
The company will use and develop "Hot´ts Holzpellets" as an independent brand
alongside its other brand names, "German Pellets", "FireStixx" and "German Horse
Pellets". The Glechner Group will be operated as an independent company within
the German Pellets Group. Gerhard and Bernhard Glechner will remain managing
directors. Over the past 16 years, the Glechner brothers have successfully
developed the pellet business of the "Hot´ts" Group, and their ongoing
leadership will ensure continuity.
The three Glechner production sites, in Mattighofen, Oberweis/Gmunden (both in
Austria) and Pfarrkirchen (Bavaria), have a combined annual capacity of approx.
100,000 tonnes. The Hot´ts Group markets about half of the manufactured pellets
directly through its own logistics division. The company´s distribution partners
also sell its pellets under the brand name "Hot´ts Holzpellets".
"Like FireStixx, Hot´ts is known in Austria for its high quality standards and
is well established in the country´s private-consumer market," said German
Pellets Managing Director Peter Leibold. The two wood-pellet brands will
continue to operate on the market in Austria and Southern Germany.
About Glechner
Formerly a milling operation, the Glechner Group has been producing and
marketing wood pellets since 1996, making it one of the pioneers of the Central
European wood-pellet industry. By setting standards in product quality from the
very beginning, "Hot´ts" has become one of the best-known brands of wood pellets
in Austria and Bavaria. The company manufactures premium-quality pellets at
three sites in Upper Austria and Lower Bavaria for the end-consumer markets in
Austria and Southern Germany.
About German Pellets
German Pellets is the largest pellet manufacturer in Europe and the market
leader in Germany. The German Pellets Group produces wood pellets and wood-based
animal hygiene products from renewable resources at 18 sites (including
FireStixx partner sites). The products are sold under the brand names "German
Pellets", "German Horse Pellets", "FireStixx" and "Hot´ts Holzpellets". The wood
pellets manufactured by German Pellets are used in central heating systems,
pellet stoves, heating stations and power plants for the generation of green
heat and green power.
Further inquiry note:
Press contact: Claudia Röhr
Tel.: +49 (0) 3841 30306412
E-Mail: claudia.roehr@german-pellets.de
end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: German Pellets GmbH
Am Torney 2a
D-23970 Wismar
phone: +49 (0) 3841 30 30 6 0
FAX: +49 (0) 3841 - 30 30 6 91 00
WWW: http://www.german-pellets.de
sector: Energy
ISIN: DE000A1H3J67
indexes:
stockmarkets: free trade/Bondm: Stuttgart, Open Market: Frankfurt
language: English