1. 7. 2020
Linz, Austria and Kranj, Slovenia, 1 July 2020: S&T AG signed contracts for the acquisition of the
Iskratel Group, one of
the leading European ICT providers for the digital transformation of the
telecommunications, transport, public safety and energy industries. S&T AG
is a leading supplier of IT systems in Central and Eastern Europe, and of the
services and solutions comprised in them. The technology group employs some
4,900 people and operates in 32 countries around the world.
Both companies recognize synergies for their future
development and success, especially in IIOT software and 5G applications, which
complement and strengthen the S&T product range. The acquired 5G know-how
and the solutions based on it can be combined with established S&T products
in the smart industry sector, such as SusieTec. The roll-out of 5G equipment on
high-speed trains can also be advanced while strengthening the transport
business. This is an area where the S&T Group has already implemented joint
projects with Iskratel in Slovenia. Further synergies will open up in areas
such as sourcing, manufacturing and sales, with S&T providing Iskratel with
access to the Western European market. In return, S&T can draw on
Iskratel’s employees and excellent long-term reputation in the Adriatic region
and Eastern Europe.
Željko Puljić, CEO Iskratel: “The
Iskratel Group has made a very clear and ambitious strategic plan which will be
much more efficiently realized through numerous synergies within S&T AG.
Faster portfolio development and market penetration, especially in areas of
IIOT and 5G solutions, safe and smart communities, virtualization of access and
core communication networks will be enabled through a stronger combined
innovation and know-how, sourcing and sales network. We are also increasing
human capital, which we continue to recognize as a crucial element in further
success.”
Hannes Niederhauser,
CEO S&T AG: “We have been following 5G developments for a long time,
have identified applications ready for this technology, and expect to gain an
advantage by strengthening our 5G product portfolio. Due to our synergies we
will be able to increase Iskratel’s results to over 10% of EBITDA within the
next 2 years. With this acquisition, we are positioning ourselves even more
strongly for the future in our focus areas of smart factories and train radio
for high-speed trains.”
In 2019, with 900 employees, the Iskratel Group
generated sales of EUR 115 million and a slightly positive result. The fixed
purchase price of EUR 37.5 million corresponds to a revenue multiple of around
0.35. Variable purchase prices were also agreed depending on future profit
developments. The transaction is scheduled to close in autumn 2020, once all
the official approvals have been obtained.
ABOUT S&T AG
S&T
AG heads a technology group that
employs some 4,900 people, operating in 32 countries around the world. S&T
AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ISIN AT0000A0E9W5, WKN A0X9EJ,
SANT), and S&T forms part of the Exchange‘s TecDAX® and SDAX® indexes.
S&T is a leading supplier of IT systems in Central and Eastern Europe, and
of the services and solutions comprised in them. In 2016, S&T took a stake
in Kontron AG – one of the leaders in the world market for embedded computers –
which has enhanced its portfolio of proprietary technologies used in the fields
of appliances, cloud security, software and smart energy. This move has made
S&T one of the leading suppliers on the international markets for Industry
4.0 and IoT (Internet of Things) technologies.