STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 6, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Swedish Chamber of Commerce and the Swedish Trade Council in France has appointed Gunnebo the winner of "Prix d'Excellence" for "its exceptional success on the French market."
"We are very proud of this proof of success on our largest individual market. The French market constitutes today 23 per cent of Gunnebo's total sales and no less than 28 per cent of Gunnebo Security's sales. Our growth has been very rapid in France -- in eight years we have grown from 5 million Euro to 180 and from 6 employees to 1,600 through acquisitions and organic growth," says Bjarne Holmqvist, Gunnebo's President and CEO.
Gunnebo, the global security group, started its activities in France in 1994 with the acquisition of Troax France SARL, a company specialising in indoor perimeter protection.
Following a number of minor acquisitions, Gunnebo took the next important step towards growth in France when it acquired the Fichet-Bauche group in 1999.
With the acquisition of Fichet-Bauche the Gunnebo Group became the leading company in France in physical security and electronic security services for banks. In 2001, Gunnebo also became a leader in mecatronic security systems by acquiring CS Security, and with it the well-known Ritzenthaler and Haffner brand names.
Gunnebo is also one of the leading companies offering access control and entrance control equipment.
Annual sales in France currently amount to some MEUR 180, distributed amongst Gunnebo's 14 subsidiaries in France. The most important of these are Fichet Securite Physique (30%), Ritzenthaler (27%) and Fichet Securite Electronique (21%). Other well-known brand names are Gunnebo Troax, Gunnebo Entrance Control, Chubb Safes and Hygiaphone.
Besides these 14 companies, Gunnebo has four factories, 19 branch offices and 109 agents/distributors throughout France. The strong brand names and the local presence are very important assets for the building of an even stronger security group in France.
For further information, please contact:
Bjarne Holmqvist, President and CEO, Gunnebo AB: +46-31-83 68 00 or +46- 708-40 03 70 or Janerik Dimming, Director of Information: +46-31-83 68 03, or 46-705-83 68 03; e-mail: janerik.dimming@gunnebo.se, www.gunnebo.se
Gunnebo is today an internationally fast-growing security group with 106 companies located in 32 countries. The Group has sales to a further hundred markets via agents and distributors. Annual turnover amounts to some MEUR 800. Gunnebo's security products mainly include fire and burglar resistant safes, security products for banks and cash handling, electronic security systems, fire protection, entrance control and access control, alarm centres, and indoor and outdoor perimeter protection. Gunnebo has at its disposal five of the world's leading brand names in security: Chubb Safes, Fichet-Bauche, Rosengrens, Garny and Leicher.
This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net
The following files are available for download:
http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/12/06/20021206BIT00710/wkr0001.doc
http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/12/06/20021206BIT00710/wkr0002.pdf