"GEA Group" to take over manufacturer of equipment for farms "DB Wilaard Holding BV"

"GEA Group" announced takeover of "DB Wilaard Holding BV", the leading manufacturer of farming equipment "Royal de Boer" and "Brouwers". "GEA Group" comes from Dutch city of Leeuwarden, it has 160 employees and its incomes in 2008 amounted to 40m EUR. By purchasing "DB Wilaard Holding BV", "GEA Group" acquires the right to run production factories in Russia and other countries of former Soviet Union.

According to Dirk Hejnal, the CEO of GEA’s sector for agricultural technology, the takeover of companies "Houle" and "Norbco" in North America is a part of the strategic plan of “GEA Group” to conquer the markets of North America, Europe and Russia.

"GEA Farm Technologies" will resume production of agricultural machines according to the standards previously set by "Royal de Boer", and it will export them from Russian city of Kolomna, the production headquarters, to all around the world.

The majority owner of stocks in "Wilaard" group, Jan S. Zeinstra, is satisfied with the cooperation with GEA Group, which will keep operating successfully in the domain of agriculture and respond to turbulent changes and challenges in global market.

Starting December 31, 2008, "GEA Farm Technologies", of which headquarters is in Bohn, officially employs 2,000 people and delivers its technological solutions to farms of all sizes.

"GEA Group" is, by the way, one of the leading competitors in Germany in the sphere of mechanical engineering, with specialized product portfolio of processing machines, components and technology.

Total incomes of “GEA Group” in budget year 2008 amounted to 5.2 billion EUR, 50% of which was the profit from the industry of food and drinks. According to official data of December 31, 2008, "GEA Group" has over 21,000 employees in 50 countries.