Cession des activités d'équipements et de services de court terme de US Filter à Siemens-Veolia Environnement (Euronext VIE et NYSE : VE)

Veolia Environnement (Euronext VIE et NYSE : VE) annonce aujourd'hui la signature d'un accord portant sur la cession, par Veolia Environnement à Siemens, des activités d'équipements et de services de court terme de US Filter, pour un montant de 993 millions de dollars US. L'opération devrait être effective dans le courant du troisième trimestre 2004, après approbation par les autorités de la concurrence.

Cette cession est une étape majeure du programme de recentrage stratégique de Veolia Environnement, annoncé en septembre dernier, sur les activités de contrats à long terme dans le domaine de l'eau en Amérique du Nord. Elle fait suite à la cession de Everpure annoncée en novembre dernier.

Joergen Ole Haslestad, Président de la division I&S :
« Cette acquisition est une étape importante dans le renforcement de notre portefeuille. La croissance du secteur de l'eau jouera un rôle majeur dans les activités industrielles de Siemens. Nous pourrons, grâce à cela, étendre nos produits et offres de services à nos clients, en particulier sur le marché de l'eau le plus important du monde, les Etats-Unis. »

HENRI PROGLIO, PRÉSIDENT-DIRECTEUR GÉNÉRAL DE VEOLIA ENVIRONNEMENT :
« La cession de nos activités équipements et services de court terme de USFilter a suscité beaucoup d'intérêts de la part d'investisseurs stratégiques et financiers. L'offre de Siemens nous a semblé, à tous égards (industriel, financier et stratégique) très convaincante. Elle nous permet d'assurer dans le futur, le développement de ces activités et de leurs équipes avec d'intéressantes perspectives de collaboration industrielle et commerciale avec un grand groupe européen.

Contact analystes et investisseurs institutionnels : Nathalie Pinon +33 1 71 75 01 67

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Le communiqué émis par Siemens :

Siemens expands position in the growing water market
Acquires US Filter Corporation’s systems and services businesses for $993 million

Munich, May 12, 2004

Siemens is expanding its activities in the rapidly growing market for water treatment and supply. As an important step in this strategy, the Industrial Solutions and Services Group (I&S) is acquiring the worldwide systems and services businesses of the US market leader, US Filter Corporation. The purchase price for the company - which employs around 5,800 individuals and has annual sales of some $1.2 billion- amounted to $993 million. A definitive agreement among Siemens and the French parent company Veolia Environnement, Paris, has now been reached. The transaction, which is expected to close before the end of September, is subject only to applicable regulatory approvals.

US Filter is headquartered in Palm Desert (CA) and Houston (TX) and consists of around 120 locations worldwide. It is the leading provider of municipal and industrial water treatment products and services in the North American market. The worldwide market for water treatment and supply as well as industrial wastewater treatment has a total annual volume of €290 billion. The industry’s size, coupled with an annual growth rate of more than six percent, makes it a particularly appealing business segment. The primary markets are in the United States and Europe.

For municipalities and industrial companies, water supply and treatment are critical topics for the 21st Century. Water belongs to the strategically significant and cross-Group areas in which Siemens is already well-positioned. The main activities are concentrated within the Groups Automation and Drives (A&D) and I&S. The I&S Group has the lead management for the water-related business. US Filter’s activities will also be organizationally led by this Group. The headquarter of the new I&S Group company will remain in Palm Desert. I&S Group President Joergen Ole Haslestad said: “This acquisition is an important step in the framework of strengthening our Group portfolio. The growing water business will play a critical role within our industrial activities at Siemens. With it, we will be able to expand our product and service offerings for our customers, in particular within the world’s largest water market, the USA.”

Henri Proglio, Chairman of Veolia Environnement, said: “The sale of US Filter Corporation’s systems and services businesses generated significant interest from both strategic and financial investors. We found Siemens’ offer very convincing from all points of view: industrial, financial and strategic. This transaction will preserve the future and growth of these businesses and their teams, while providing attractive prospects for industrial and commercial cooperation with an important European group.”

The Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group (I&S) provides innovative solutions and services designed to improve competitiveness in processing and manufacturing industries and in infrastructure. Offerings cover the entire life cycle of industrial and infrastructure facilities, from consulting and planning through installation, operation, integration of MES-solutions, maintenance and modernization. In fiscal 2003 (to September 30) I&S employed a total of 25.000 people worldwide and achieved total sales of EUR 4.012 billion.

Informationsnummer: AXX 200405.46 e
Peter Gottal
80312 München
Tel.: +49-89 636-33645 Fax: - 32825
peter.gottal@siemens.com

Presseoffice Industrial Solutions and Services
Wieland Simon
Phone.: +49-9131 7-46169; Fax: -25074
wieland.simon@siemens.com

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