ARCADIS, the international consultancy and engineering company (NASDAQ: ARCAF; EURONEXT: ARCAD) announced today that it has acquired 100% of the shares of HL-Service Management GmbH (HL-S), a leading German facility management consultancy. Since 1993 HL-S supports real estate operators and owners in their real estate management challenges. The company is managed by Siegfried Schilling and Juergen Ecker. It has approximately 20 employees, is headquarted in Siegen and has additional offices in Frankfurt and Berlin.
HL-S has proprietary software to assist clients with a full economic facility management package covering the entire life cycle of real estate objects. The HL-S software products VIDASnet and IBAnet belong to the leading FM solutions in the market and are used daily by large clients. The company supports and advises real estate owners, investors, large publicly held companies and international operators in various fields. It consults on effective land use, optimal resources and staff planning, safety of people and equipment, and client and user satisfaction. HL-S operates internationally and supports project developers in early planning of business and life cycle costs of real estate. Moreover, HL-S operates complex real estate properties for clients.
The expertise of HL-S in facility management strengthens the position of ARCADIS in the German real estate and infrastructure market. In combination with the project management services of ARCADIS HOMOLA, ARCADIS can offer investors and owners in the future even better services in all fields around planning and construction. Also, in the growing market of PPP projects, the integration of HL-S's expertise results in broadens the ARCADIS range of services.
HL-S will operate as an independent organization within ARCADIS. With the integration in the international ARCADIS group, the HL-S is strengthened with additional competences in all engineering disciples available within ARCADIS.
"Nowadays, companies ask for ecologically and economically sound management of buildings and installations. Outsourcing their facility management is increasingly considered as an effective way to save costs and to realize quality advantages. With the acquisition of HL-S, ARCADIS wants to start offering this service in Germany. In addition, thanks to this acquisition we will get early access to large project developments and that way we can further develop our position in the German property market," said Uli Behr, CEO of ARCADIS in Germany.
"As a consulting firm for facility management, HL-Service management GmbH places the interests of its clients in the center of its work. More and more clients expect an integrated approach to their real estate over the entire life cycle. Having an early influence in the concept and planning phases of the real estate object is crucial for lasting operational and cost optimization. With the expertise of ARCADIS we can in the future not only offer more comprehensive services, but also optimize the interfaces of the different project phases and subprojects," stated Siegfried Schilling, managing director the HL-Service management GmbH.
ARCADIS is an international company providing consultancy, engineering and management services in infrastructure, environment and facilities, to enhance mobility, sustainability and quality of life. ARCADIS develops, designs, implements, maintains and operates projects for companies and governments. With more than 11,000 employees and $1.5 billion in gross revenue, the company has an extensive international network that is supported by strong local market positions.
Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Those risks include, among others, risks associated with possible changes in environmental legislation and risks with regard to the Company's ability to acquire and execute projects. These and other risks are described in ARCADIS' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission over the last 12 months, copies of which will be available from the SEC or may be obtained upon request from the Company.
