USFilter Acquires Hydrotech AB Of Sweden
Filter Manufacturer Expands USFilter's Water, Wastewater Technology Offering, Seeks Title 22 Compliance
CARY, N.C., July 1, 2002 - USFilter has acquired Hydrotech AB of Vellinge, Sweden, a leading international manufacturer of water purification technology that specializes in drum and disc filtration systems. As part of the acquisition, the Hydrotech business will be integrated into USFilter's Kruger Products of Cary, N.C.
According to Terry Mah, vice president and general manager of USFilter's Kruger Products, the Hydrotech acquisition will enable USFilter to further complement its extensive filtration capabilities while providing customers with more innovative solutions to water and wastewater treatment filtration applications.
Mah explained that USFilter had previously established a license agreement with Hydrotech, and was so impressed with the operating efficiencies of the filters that it decided to acquire the company.
"We really liked the superior design, reliability, and low maintenance of these systems, and the acquisition gives us an even wider range of water and wastewater filtration technologies for municipal and industrial applications," said Mah. "Hydrotech filters are popular for water reuse, and we hope to add it to our growing list of Title 22-compliant technologies."
All equipment used in the state of California for the tertiary treatment of municipal wastewater must be Title 22-compliant. Although the law is only applicable in California, engineers in other states often use it as a determiner in recommending equipment.
The acquisition extends USFilter's strategy of adding technologies and services in the firm's core water and wastewater treatment businesses, according to USFilter president and CEO Andy Seidel. "With this transaction, we have completed more than $100 million in acquisitions since the first of the year," he said.
The highly efficient, small footprint Hydrotech filter technology is used in industrial applications from pulp and paper intake water to food processing plants, as well as in municipal drinking water and wastewater filtration applications.
Mah pointed out the Hydrotech filters fit well with USFilter's existing filtration line, which includes everything from gravity, cluster, traveling bridge, and pressure filters, to clarification-filtration package plants, membranes, de-nitrification filters, and underdrains.
Hydrotech's headquarters and manufacturing offices will remain in Vellinge, Sweden. Specific terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
United States Filter Corporation, a Vivendi Environnement company, is North America's largest water company providing comprehensive water and wastewater systems and services to commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers. Vivendi Environnement (Paris Bourse: VIE and NYSE:VE), comprised of Vivendi Water (worldwide water products and services), Onyx (solid waste and industrial services), Dalkia (energy management), Connex (transportation and logistics) and FCC (Spanish company engaged in environmental and construction related industries), is the largest environmental services company in the world with more than 295,000 employees, including FCC, in about 100 countries and annual revenues of more than $25.6 billion. Visit the company's web sites at www.usfilter.com or www.vivendienvironnement-finance.com.
Important Disclaimer. This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations or beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: acquisition related risks, inability to further identify, develop and achieve success for new products, services and technologies; increased competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues; inability to establish and maintain relationships with commerce, advertising, marketing, technology, and content providers. Investors and security holders are urged to read Vivendi's Registration Statement on Amendment No. 1 to Form 20-F, the Vivendi Environnement joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Vivendi Environnement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at the Commission's web site at www.sec.gov. These documents may also be obtained for free from Vivendi Environnement.