DGAP-News: Pironet NDH AG / Key word(s): Strategic Company
Decision/Change of Personnel
Pironet NDH AG: Sale of SA2 Worldsync GmbH, Reorganisation of the MDS
group segment, Changes in the Executive Board
12.08.2011 / 15:48
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Cologne, Germany, 12. August 2011 - The Pironet NDH Group is consistently
pursuing the transformation process it launched in the spring, with the aim
of realignment and strengthening of the earnings situation. Following the
sale of agentes AG, along with the withdrawal from the deficit-running
group segment Finance IT in March of this year, the previously announced
review of all strategic options in the Master Data Services (MDS) group
segment at Pironet NDH is now complete.
Profitable realignment
The MDS group segment addresses the retail sector and the consumer-goods
industry and encompasses SA2 Worldsync GmbH, SA2 Retail AG and SA2 Exchange
GmbH. Within the scope of the review, important decisions were made for the
benefit of the companies and of all of the customers, business partners and
employees; major steps were taken to chart the course for a profitable
realignment of the Pironet NDH Group.
Sale of shares in SA2 Worldsync GmbH
SA2 Worldsync GmbH provides the retail sector and the consumer goods
industry with an extensive data pool for electronic exchange and the
synchronisation of product master data. Taking economic effect on 1 January
2011, Pironet NDH AG has sold the 51% share held in SA2 Worldsync GmbH by
its subsidiary SA2 Retail AG to its longstanding co-partner at SA2
Worldsync GmbH, GS1 Germany GmbH, Cologne. The purchase price is set at EUR
2.6 million. In addition, a licence contract has been completed which
allows the perpetual and irrevocable licence for usage, processing and
advancement of the PIM source code on the basis of a one-off fee in the
amount of EUR 1.4 million. SA2 Worldsync GmbH requires the PIM basic
technology to continue its business operations. SA2 Worldsync GmbH is part
of the MDS segment at Pironet NDH AG, where it had only been consolidated
at equity since 1 January 2011.
To secure ongoing client projects, an extensive contract for additional
training and development services was concluded as well. Both companies
will continue to work together in a spirit of partnership in the future.
Datacenter operation of the master data pool will also be provided by
Pironet NDH Datacenter GmbH for the next 3 years.
Integration of SA2 Retail AG within Imperia AG
SA2 Retail AG carries out demanding software and IT development projects
for major clients in the retail and consumer-goods setting. Particularly
close project collaboration is in place with Imperia AG, a group affiliate
of SA2 Retail AG. The Executive Board and Supervisory Board of Pironet NDH
AG have decided upon the reorganisation and integration of SA2 Retail AG in
the Imperia AG. The future company has considerable potential for the use
of synergies in both development and sales, ensures the reliable fulfilment
of customer contracts of SA2 Retail AG and offers a diversity of
opportunities for new solution concepts in the marketplace. The integration
also simplifies organisational structures and reduces administrative
expenses.
Integration of SA2 Exchange GmbH within Pironet NDH Datacenter GmbH
SA2 Exchange GmbH offers companies a central, software-based transaction
platform for the outsourcing of invoicing processes and for electronic data
interchange (EDI) between business partners. As a pure
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, the platform serves major clients
from a variety of industries. Even today, the system is operated in the
computing centre at Pironet NDH Datacenter GmbH, and the service is
performed jointly with SA2 Exchange GmbH.
The Executive Board and Supervisory Board at Pironet NDH AG have decided in
favour of the integration of SA2 Exchange GmbH in Pironet NDH Datacenter
GmbH. Today's offering by SA2 Exchange extends and completes the business
model of Pironet NDH Datacenter in an outstanding way, integrates itself
directly in the existing SaaS and cloud-computing portfolio and will
further accelerate the company's successful course for growth. This is true
both against the backdrop of future synergies in joint sales and for the
strengthening of staff expertise in the technical divisions. Experts who
are still needed and are difficult to recruit currently represent the most
significant impediment to growth at Pironet NDH Datacenter GmbH. In the
view of leading market analysts, Pironet NDH Datacenter ranks among the
leading and strong-growing SaaS and cloud-computing providers among German
SMEs.
Reorganisation of the MDS group segment and Changes in the Executive Board
With the sale of the shares in SA2 Worldsync GmbH and the internal
reorganisation of SA2 Retail AG and SA2 Exchange GmbH, the process of the
strategic review of the MDS segment of Pironet NDH AG, announced on 25
March 2011, was successfully completed.
In this connection, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Pironet NDH AG,
Mr. Hans-Werner Scherer, has announced his wish to withdraw from the
Executive Board of the company. The related talks have not yet ended. Until
their completion, Mr. Scherer is relieved of his duties as Chairman of the
Executive Board and member of the Executive Board effective from August 11,
2011. With effect from August 11, 2011, Mr. Scherer's successor in the
chairmanship of the executive board will be the present Deputy Chairman of
the Executive Board, Mr. Felix Höger.
Focus on reliable fulfilment of services and profitable growth
The reorganisation resolved represents the conclusion of the review of
strategic options in the Master Data Services group segment. These options
are now being enacted at the organisational level. The measures decided
ensure reliable fulfilment of all service obligations to the clients and
business partners while providing a solid starting point for profitability
and growth for Pironet NDH AG.
About Pironet NDH AG
PIRONET NDH AG offers the market a unique portfolio of solutions for
handling digital content and data. This includes consultancy, software,
integration and outsourcing services. PIRONET NDH AG is a corporate group
that brings together three companies specializing in the different business
areas ICT outsourcing, consulting and design as well as content management
solutions. PIRONET NDH AG was founded in 1995 and is based in Cologne.
Since 2000, it has been listed on the German stock exchange. The Group of
companies employs more than 350 people and posted sales figures of around
55 million euros in the last financial year (2010).
Further information at: http://www.pironet-ndh.com
End of Corporate News
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Language: English
Company: Pironet NDH AG
Von-der-Wettern Str. 27
51149 Köln
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)220 393530 - 6002
Fax: +49 (0)220 393530 - 6009
E-mail: ir@pironet-ndh.com
Internet: www.pironet-ndh.com
ISIN: DE0006916406
WKN: 691640
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (General Standard);
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover,
München, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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135604 12.08.2011
DGAP-News: Pironet NDH AG: Sale of SA2 Worldsync GmbH, Reorganisation of the MDS group segment, Changes in the Executive Board
| Source: EQS Group AG