EANS-News: Wienerberger?s portfolio becomes smarter with the acquisition of digital solutions provider Inter Act
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New Products/Strategic Management Decisions
Vienna - 03 November 2020
* Important step in the ESG Strategy to fight against climate change
* Acquisition of Inter Act upgrades and extends Wienerberger's smart solutions
portfolio and will spark further growth in the digitalization of water and
energy management systems
* Web and cloud-based services and solutions will help predict, mitigate and
learn from events ultimately improving the standard of living, protecting
communities and our environment.
With the acquisition of Inter Act B.V., a Netherlands based company that
develops and provides web and cloud-based technologies, the Wienerberger Group
is adding important value to its product portfolio with cutting edge digital
services. As a trusted partner in water and energy management, Wienerberger's
business unit Wienerberger Piping Solutions will be able to offer complete smart
solutions enabling clients to monitor, predict, remotely control, and learn from
generated as well as big data. This represents a further step in the execution
of Wienerberger's value-creating growth strategy with a clear focus on
sustainable solutions.
Wienerberger CEO Heimo Scheuch: "Developing and bringing smart solutions to our
markets is an integral part of our strategy. Wienerberger Piping Solutions
already offers all the hardware, the piping and accessories, necessary in water
and waste-water infrastructure. Together with Inter Act, we can turn these
infrastructure networks into intelligent, orchestrated systems, city-wide water
management solutions, that are centrally managed and monitored. In other words,
we will be offering what waterworks need to make our cities truly smart."
Inter Act offers its broad clientele web and cloud-based end-to-end solutions
built on two decades of know-how and experience. Its products' main application
areas, smart city & environment and water management perfectly overlap with
those of Wienerberger. The acquisition of Inter Act marks another important step
for Wienerberger to achieve sustainable and value-creating growth.
Wienerberger's key focus is on further strengthening its leading position as a
provider of innovative and digital systems for the entire building envelope and
for infrastructure and the achievement of ambitious sustainability targets in
alignment with the EU Green Deal. A key pillar of the strategy is the
transformation of Wienerberger Piping Solutions into a full system solutions
provider for water and energy management. Within its ESG strategy Wienerberger
is fully committed to fight with its water solutions against the negative
effects of climate change that causes more unpredictable weather conditions
leadings to water scarcity and flooding at the same time.
"Together with Inter Act we can make an outstanding contribution to the
responsible use of water - one of our most important resources. The information
coming from market leading infrastructure systems equipped with sensors and
enhanced with deep learning algorithms will enable municipalities to predict
events, help to avoid floods and subsequent damage, and support utility
companies optimize their water management network sustainably", concludes Heimo
Scheuch.
Utilizing Wienerberger's leading position in water management will ensure a
rapid integration of Inter Act into the Wienerberger Piping Solutions Business
Unit, leveraging synergies in joint systems and solutions development as well as
stimulating further growth via Wienerberger's strong distribution channels.
The acquisition of Inter Act B.V. is part of the company's value-creating growth
strategy, meets its investment criteria and contributes immediately to
Wienerberger's net profit. It has been agreed not to disclose the purchase
price.
Watch the video of a smart water management solution of Inter Act on our website
[https://www.wienerberger.com/en/press/press-releases/20201103-wienerbergers-
acquisition-inter-act.html].
Wienerberger Piping Solutions (WPS)
Wienerberger Piping Solutions (WPS) ranks amongst the leading European suppliers
of innovative solutions in the pipe industry. In this business Wienerberger is
rapidly transforming from a product to a system supplier to the building
industry. Smart solutions for water and energy management also make it a
strategic partner for its infrastructure customers. WPS is focusing on the
development of a high-quality product portfolio and full system solutions. This
move, coupled with an orientation to service excellence, is a strong platform
for further growth, which will be augmented by selective regional acquisitions.
Wienerberger Group
The Wienerberger Group is a leading international provider of smart solutions
for the entire building envelope and for infrastructure. Wienerberger is the
world's largest producer of bricks (Porotherm, Terca) and the market leader in
clay roof tiles (Koramic, Tondach) in Europe as well as concrete pavers
(Semmelrock) in Central Europe. In pipe systems (Steinzeug-Keramo ceramic pipes
and Pipelife plastic pipes), the company is one of the leading suppliers in
Europe. With its total of 201 production sites, the Wienerberger Group generated
revenues of EUR 3.5 billion and EBITDA LFL of EUR 587 million in 2019.
Wienerberger AG is a pure free float company, whereby the majority of shares are
held by Austrian and international institutional investors. Additional
information on the shareholder structure is provided under https:/ /
wienerberger.com/en/investors/share [https://wienerberger.com/en/investors/
share]
Further inquiry note:
Claudia Hajdinyak, Head of Corporate Communications Wienerberger AG
t +43 664 828 31 83| claudia.hajdinyak@wienerberger.com
Anna Maria Grausgruber, Head of Investor Relations Wienerberger AG
t +43 1 601 92 - 10221 | investor@wienerberger.com
end of announcement euro adhoc
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issuer: Wienerberger AG
Wienerbergerplatz 1
A-1100 Wien
phone: +43 1 60 192-0
FAX: +43 1 60 192-10159
mail: office@wienerberger.com
WWW: www.wienerberger.com
ISIN: AT0000831706, AT0000A2GLA0
indexes: ATX
stockmarkets: Wien
language: English