Mannheim, 05/18/06
Further expansion of activities in power plant services:

Bilfinger Berger to acquire Essener Hochdruck

Bilfinger Berger is to acquire Essener Hochdruck Rohrleitungsbau GmbH, a leading provider of high-pressure piping systems in Europe. In the current fiscal year the company will generate an output volume of approximately €160 million with 800 employees, and the company’s EBIT is above the 4 percent margin required by Bilfinger Berger in its services business.

With this acquisition, the Group can provide all services in the value chain for complex piping systems – from design, delivery and installation to repair, maintenance and turnarounds – all from a single source. EHR works on both conventional and nuclear power plants, industrial plants and municipal heating networks. Strong growth in demand is expected in the power plant market, and is already apparent from EHR’s orders received. The output volume of the company will increase to over € 200 million within a short period of time.

The previous owners were capiton, a financial investor, and EHR’s management. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the financial details of the deal. The transaction is subject to the approval of anti-trust authorities.

Bilfinger Berger has systematically expanded its services business with this acquisition. Rising global demand for energy, the increasing need for rehabilitation and stricter environmental protection requirements all provide power plant services with excellent perspectives for the future.