The BWT Group has strengthened its presence in the point-of-use consumer business with a majority interest in the Mettem Technologies Group, Moscow, secured by the signing of a framework agreement.

Last year, Mettem Technologies generated revenue of around RUB 2.6 billion) (approximately €35 million). With its "BARRIER" brand, it is the market leader for table water filters in Russia and also holds significant shares in the market for inline filter systems.

BWT CEO Andreas Weissenbacher says: "We will use our participation in Mettem/Barrier to proceed with the internationalisation of the BWT Group, especially in the promising Asian markets for point-of-use business. In future, BWT-BARRIER's activities will also be supported by BWT table water filters' unique magnesium technology."

The new joint holding company will be headquartered in Mondsee, Austria, where the operations of the new BWT Consumer Group will be managed. The closing of the transaction is subject to different conditions, among other things, to approval by antitrust authorities and is expected during the first half-year 2015. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

distributed by