KCI Konecranes Wins Court Case Over

In March 2000, KCI Konecranes acquired business assets including the trade name "Noell" from Noell Service und Maschinentechnik GmbH (of Preussag Noell GmbH, part of Babcock Borsig AG).

The business assets were related to the after sales and maintenance business. Earlier, the crane production assets of the same company had been sold to a company 80% of which belongs to the Fantuzzi Group, under the name "Noell Crane systems".

KCI Konecranes named its acquired service business Noell Konecranes GmbH.

The Fantuzzi Group launched a lawsuit to challenge KCI Konecranes' rights to use the Noell-name.

In a court ruling the Fantuzzi Group challenge was defeated.

The court upheld KCI Konecranes' rights to use the "Noell" name in addition with "KCI" or "Konecranes". KCI Konecranes' right to manufacture and procure spare parts according to original Noell drawings and other documentation acquired as part of the Noell business assets was not challenged.

Earlier, when the Fantuzzi Group having launched an attack on Noell Konecranes, trying to lure off its personnel, KCI Konecranes won another court case ordering a halt to Fantuzzi's actions.

In a statement Dr. Stig Gustavson, KCI Konecranes President and CEO, stressed the open policy of his group. "The name of our subsidiary Noell Konecranes signals the true picture. It is indeed the old Noell, known since years and years for good service, now in the capable hands of the world-wide dedicated cranes group, KCI Konecranes. We do not want to do business in courtrooms. Instead, we win business with honest marketing, top-class service and excellent products" Dr. Gustavson added.

For further information, please contact:
KCI Konecranes International Plc,
Sirpa Poitsalo, Director General Counsel,
Tel. +358-20 427 2011