ANTWERP - The VALERES Group, based in Antwerp, has announced its take-over of the German industrial construction company, STAHLBAU BREHNA, today. The VALERES Group specialises in the construction of shell to turnkey projects in both steel and concrete. The Group wants to use the take-over to strengthen its position as an international construction company in Europe.
STAHLBAU BREHNA is an industrial construction company with its own production hall, in which the steel elements and constructions are produced for its own construction projects. In 2007, the company produced 2,500 tonnes of steel and achieved a turnover of EUR 12 million.
Alongside the projects in which STAHLBAU BREHNA is involved as a general contractor, the company also specialises in producing specific steel constructions as part of complex construction projects (supporting structures, staircases, steel frames for office buildings in glass, etc.).
More steel production
Subject to one or two minor investments in staff and in the production hall, the production volume will be able to be increased to 3,000 - 3,500 tonnes of steel in the short term.
An increase in steel production will also be necessary, given that construction projects are also on the rise. The expected turnover for this year is put at EUR 15 million, and by 2012, a turnover of EUR 25 - 30 million must be achievable.
Thanks to the resurgence in construction activity in Germany, and the favourable location of Stahlbau Brehna between cities such as Leipzig, Halle, Berlin and Dresden, it will be able to benefit over the next few years from the burgeoning economic activities in this region.
STAHLBAU BREHNA already has several good references to its name, such as the Mobis Parts Europe (Kia and Hyundai) distribution centre, the Dresing textile group production site and the steel constructions for the new Porsche plant in Leipzig.
Strengthening of European position
The take-over fits into the corporate strategy of the VALERES Group. On the one hand, the take-over of STAHLBAU BREHNA means it can now serve almost the entire German market, together with the group’s other German construction company, VALERES Industriebau in Aachen (good for a combined turnover of EUR 50 million per year); on the other hand, the location of STAHLBAU BREHNA provides a perfect opportunity to carry out projects in eastern European countries. Poland and the Czech Republic are only 150 km away, and initial contacts have also been made with Latvia. The strengthened German activities will also make it possible for the Group to present a better image of itself to the entire eastern European industrial construction and property market.
“This take-over represents a major step towards achieving our strategy to grow within Germany and Europe,” says Marc Diver, CEO of VALERES. “With this additional site in eastern Germany, we can assist both our German and international customers across almost the entire territory of Germany in the completion of their construction projects. Since 2006, the German construction market, which is still lagging behind other European countries, has experienced considerable growth, and we hope to reap the benefits of this over the coming years. We will also be in a stronger position to monitor our customers with their projects in eastern Europe: German precision and quality is an advantage that will open more doors in these countries.”
“For us, this take-over is the next step in our process of growth,” says Matthias Gabler, Director of STAHLBAU BREHNA. “Thanks to the experience and international reputation of the VALERES Group, we should be able to attract more international companies to the Leipzig - Berlin region. It will also be easier now to implement projects in various eastern European countries.”
BACKGROUND
VALERES
VALERES, with its headquarters in Antwerp, is a leading Belgian construction group with local construction companies in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and Belgium, which specialise in industrial construction projects. These are concerned with the construction of shell to turnkey projects from 500 m² to 50,000 m², in both steel and concrete.
Finally, VALERES also has a portfolio of project developments in these countries, as well as in Eastern Europe.
In Belgium, the group is mainly active as a prefab concrete supplier with JUMA Beton NV in Balen, CONDECO NV in Diksmuide and GOUDEZEUNE Beton NV in Kemmel.
The VALERES Group employs more than 500 people. The expected turnover for 2008 is EUR 150 million.
STAHLBAU BREHNA
Since its establishment in 1995, STAHLBAU BREHNA has been based in Brehna, approximately 30 km from Leipzig. The office, in the form of a glass pyramid, is just off the Munich - Leipzig - Berlin motorway.
The company has a 4,000 m² production hall, in which steel elements are produced for its own industrial construction projects.
STAHLBAU BREHNA employs 20 people and achieved a turnover of EUR 12 million in 2007.
For more information about STAHLBAU BREHNA:
www.stahlbaubrehna.com
