SKF Group to acquire Blohm + Voss Industries GmbH

Jan. 17, 2013 - PRLog -- Strengthens SKF’s position as global specialist offering complete life cycle & asset management solutions for the marine industry

SKF (http://www.skf.com/group/splash/index.html) has announced they have signed an agreement to acquire German-based ship components provider Blohm + Voss Industries (BVI) from Star Capital Partners. SKF will pay 80 million Euros (£65.2 million) for 100% of the equity of BVI and assumes net loans/cash of 18 million Euros (£14.5 million). The transaction is subject to relevant regulatory approvals. The acquisition is in line with SKF’s strategy to further position itself as the preferred application development partner offering a full asset life cycle management approach for marine solutions.

Blohm + Voss Industries is a leading manufacturer of, and service provider for, premium quality equipment for critical marine applications, including shaft components (seals and bearings), stabilisers, and oily water separators. The company has around 400 employees and originates from the Blohm + Voss shipyard, which was founded in 1877. Sales for 2011/2012 were around 100 million Euros (£81.5 million) with an operating margin in line with the SKF Group.

“We are excited to have Blohm + Voss Industries become part of the SKF Group. The synergies between the SKF and BVI marine portfolio will support SKF to be an even stronger partner for critical shaft components to the marine industry and marine specific applications for both OEM and end users,” says Tom Johnstone, SKF President and CEO.

“We are very positive about joining the SKF Group. The combination of our technologies, strategies, and organisations will be a good basis to make SKF an even stronger supplier to the marine industry,” says Martin Johannsmann, CEO Blohm + Voss Industries.

Summary and rationale:

•       SKF entered the marine business in the 1940s and currently offers products, engineering and services to the marine industry, mainly self-aligning bearings and coupling products

•       BVI operations and capabilities have a very strong fit with the SKF marine strategy

•       BVI products are of similar design parameters and production processes to other SKF seals and bearing products

•       Compliments SKF’s existing marine product and service range

•       Strengthens SKF’s service capabilities and contributes with a complementary market presence, through subsidiaries in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Busan, Andover and Kobe and sales agents and service stations worldwide

•       Provides a strong customer network with shipyards and ship owners, in addition to SKF’s strong position towards OEMs (propeller makers)

•       Establishes SKF as a leading supplier of marine sealing arrangements, and hydrodynamic bearings, which is a significant bearing type in the marine industry.

For further information, please contact: Phil Burge, Communication Manager, SKF (U.K.) Limited

T: +44 (0)1582 496433 (tel:%2B44%20%280%291582%20496433)   M: +44 (0)7770 647591 (tel:%2B44%20%280%297770%20647591)   phil.burge@skf.com

- E N D -

This press information was written and distributed by 4CM (http://www.4cm.co.uk/). For further copies, colour separation requests, images or other details on SKF Corporate please contact us on 01908 533253 or email:info.skfcorporate@4cm.co.uk

SKF is a leading global supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems, and services which include technical support, maintenance and reliability services, engineering consulting and training. SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has around 15,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2011 were SEK 66,216 million and the number of employees was 46,039. www.skf.com