Il Sole 24 ORE acquires STR s.p.a, leader in software solutions for the building industry

Milan, 19 July 2007 – Il Sole 24 ORE signed an agreement for the acquisition of the share capital of STR S.p.A., a company specialised in software solutions for the building industry.

 

With sales of approximately €12 million and a clientele comprised of construction companies, engineering firms, technical professionals, and public authorities, STR is the leading Italian company in the sector. Its products and services include standard packages and project solutions and are characterised by important product and process innovations including in the area of on-line solutions.

The registered office is in Pegognaga in the province of Mantua and the company employs a staff of more than one hundred.

The transaction - currently under review by the Anti-Trust Authorities - represents an important step in the strategic process of Il Sole 24 ORE securing a place in the building industry with an integrated system of products that includes software, books, periodicals, databases, training and communication projects, and also includes Il Sole 24 ORE Business Media brand products (formerly Editoriale GPP) and Motta Architettura.

This agreement continues the acquisition plan of the Il Sole 24 Ore Group, with a view to consolidating the leadership of the Professionals Division in the professional and technical publishing market and concurrently, its reinforcement in the sector of software solutions. The first phase included acquisition of Editoriale GPP and Motta Architettura, while the second phase in 2007 centred on acquisition of STR and most recently, Data Ufficio, a company specialised in software solutions for professionals and the public administration and the production and distribution of office material. These acquisitions will enable the Group to further consolidate its offer of integrated solutions for accountants. These transactions bring the Professional Division of Il Sole 24 ORE Group to total revenues of more than €200 million.

''With the continuous and increasingly qualified specialisation of our offer of services, our goal is to meet the needs of our customers by consolidating the leadership of Il Sole 24 ORE," remarked C.E.O., Claudio Calabi, "in publishing, training, software and communications services with technical, regulatory and scientific content for professionals, businesses and public administration, sectors in rapid and continuous evolution."

 

The C.E.O. of STR is Giovanni Marani, its Chairman is Eraldo Minella.