Largest Acquisition in Company History: ista Buys French Market Leader CIS

ESSEN, Germany, October 5 /PRNewswire/ --

-- Largest Measurement Service Provider Worldwide to Become French no. 1 as Well

ista, the leading company worldwide for metering and billing of energy, water and ancillary costs in line with actual consumption levels has taken over Comptage Immobilier Services (CIS), the sector's market leader in France. As ista CEO Walter Schmidt said: "This is the largest acquisition in the company's history, making us the largest provider in France in one fell swoop. We were already the world market leader. This purchase makes us the undisputed market leader in Europe as well. At the same time, we are making a massive leap forward in the growth market of water consumption management. Together with CIS, we are by far the leading water measurement service provider in the world." Through the purchase, the proportion of sales the ista Group generates outside Germany is to rise to 48 percent.

820 new employees

CIS, which is based in Massy near Paris, has a payroll of some 820 at more than 60 sites throughout the country. In 2005 the company generated sales of EUR 78.1 million. CIS is the leading measurement service provider in France, which, after Germany, is the second largest market for measurement services.

CIS is being sold by funds that were advised by the private equity experts Astorg Partners, as well as the CIS management. Both parties to the deal agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The current CIS management team will continue to run the company in the future.

No. 1 in the USA and Belgium as well

Only last year, through acquisitions in the USA and Belgium, ista gained pole position in these markets as well. In March 2005 ista took over the number three in the sector in the USA, Atlanta-based USI Energy Inc. In the following December the company took over the Belgian market leader.

Water measurement: a growth driver

Walter Schmidt emphasized that "primarily we see future growth in the water measurement sector. In the USA, as well as in emerging countries, there is an enormous need for it. The acquisition of CIS, which is particularly strong in the segment, puts us in a better position to tap market potential."

He continued: "The acquisition of CIS is once again an excellent example of our owners' long-term support of the ista growth strategy." Since June 2003 the measurement service provider has belonged to funds that are advised by the private equity firm CVC Capital Partners.

About ista

ista is the leading company worldwide for the consumption-related metering and billing of energy, water and ancillary costs. The services it provides for building administrators, owners and utilities companies range from the delivery and installation of measuring devices and the measurement of actual consumption to billing. In business year 2005 ista posted sales of EUR 489.9 million. In 24 countries spread throughout Europe, North America and Asians, more than 3,400 employees worldwide measure and bill the individual energy and water consumption in approx. 10 million residential and commercial units.

    
    Press contact:
    Anton Steiner-Holzmann
    Head of Corporate and Financial Communications
    ista International GmbH
    Tel. +49-201-459-3280
    E-mail: anton.steiner-holzmann@ista.com

Press contact: Anton Steiner-Holzmann, Head of Corporate and Financial Communications, ista International GmbH, Tel. +49-201-459-3280, E-mail: anton.steiner-holzmann@ista.com