KCI Konecranes acquires UK company Morris Material Handling

Stock exchange releases

The world’s leading industrial cranes and maintenance services company, KCI Konecranes, has acquired Morris Material Handling Ltd (“MMH”), a UK leading crane and hoist manufacturer with a strong focus on after market services.

Morris Material Handling Ltd is a significant UK crane and hoist manufacturer with a strong brand name that dates back to 1884. Headquartered in Loughborough, in the East Midlands, the company has 16 service branches throughout the UK. MMH also has a distributor network in certain parts of Europe, in the Middle East and in the Far East.

MMH’s product range covers all types of electric overhead travelling cranes, monorail and chain hoists and crane maintenance services. For the financial year that ended June 2004, MMH had sales of GBP 25 million (EUR 38 million). The company has 340 employees of whom 170 are employed in the service business.

KCI Konecranes’ Executive Vice President, Mr Pekka Lundmark, commented the acquisition: “MMH and KCI Konecranes’ UK maintenance organisation, Lloyds Konecranes  (formerly under the name Lloyds British Ltd), are old sister companies, with decades of joint history. The two companies are therefore uniquely positioned to exploit considerable synergies.”

Mr Steve Davis, MMH’s Managing Director said: “To fulfil the potential of MMH we have always considered it necessary for the company to be a member of a larger Group dedicated to the manufacture of cranes and the provision of aftermarket services. MMH will benefit from access to the resources within the KCI Konecranes Group to accelerate the technical advancement of its product offering and increase its market penetration providing long term benefits to its customers, suppliers and employees“.

 

The acquisition price, on a debt free basis, amounts to GBP 8.5 million (EUR 12.1 million). The acquisition of MMH (before synergies) will be EPS neutral in 2005. The benefits of all synergies will be completely visible in 2007.

MMH will be included into Group numbers from January 1, 2005.

 

Further information can be obtained from

Mr Stig Gustavson, President & CEO, phone +358-400 411 119
Mr Pekka Lundmark, Executive Vice President, phone +358-20 427 2005

 

KCI Konecranes. A world leading engineering group specializing in advanced overhead lifting solutions and maintenance services. In 2003, Group Sales totalled EUR 665 million with over 4350 employees in 34 countries all over the world.

Morris Material Handling Ltd. A UK based manufacturer of material handling equipment with a strong focus on after market services (www.morriscranes.co.uk).


DISTRIBUTION
Helsinki Stock Exchange
Media