GEA Group acquires DB Wilaard Holding BV

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).