PSI has acquired 100 percent of the shares of the Austrian Group AIS Advanced Information Systems. AIS is a provider of IT solutions and services in the fields of advanced planning, production control and supply chain management for the metals industry. The company employs a total staff of 100 in Austria, Belgium, Russia, South America and India. AIS supports customers at more than 60 sites in 25 countries with solutions for the steel industry.
In 2009, AIS expects sales of 11.6 million Euros and an EBITDA of 1.6 million Euros. The proportional EBIT contribution to the PSI Group's 2009 earnings will amount to approximately 0.3 million Euros after amortisation. PSI will pay previous year's turnover in cash for the shares and repayment of a shareholder loan to the seller, the private equity firm The Riverside Company.
PSI and AIS are strengthening their global presence and their offerings. Existing partnerships should be further expanded with the improved internationality. All existing product lines will be continued. The technology platforms will be converged for forward compatibility. With the acquisition of AIS, PSI will have more than 280 specialists for the global support of production processes in the metals industry, managing sales of more than 35 million Euros.
As a result of successful focusing and internationalisation, PSI has increased its sales in the metals industry segment by more than ten-fold since 2002. PSI will therefore continue to expand its position as the world's strongest provider of solutions in this field based on global presence, leading technology and the best scale effects in the market.