Georg Fischer AG (HQ: CH-8201 Schaffhausen) plans to take over 100% of family-owned Schwab Sanitär-Plastic GmbH (PO Box 2765, D-72717 Reutlingen). Both companies are active in the home plumbing sector. With its integration into Georg Fischer, Schwab (annual sales of EUR 25.5m and 130 employees) is expected to profit from the Swiss group´s broad distribution network for pipe systems in Europe. For Georg Fischer, the acquisition is a move to expand its business in the growth market of home plumbing and to substantially strengthen its European position. The enlarged group will have sales of EUR 128m.

Schwab Sanitär-Plastic specialises in production and distribution of toilet bowls and wall attachments facilitating the installation of sanitary fittings. The company is well established in Germany, Switzerland, the Benelux countries and the Middle East. Up to now, Georg Fischer has been active mainly as supplier of pipes and fittings sold worldwide under the trademarks “Instaflex” and “Flexalino”.

The Swiss group´s pipes systems division claims to be one of the world´s leading manufacturers and suppliers of plastic and metal components and systems for distributing, measuring and regulating the flow of liquids and gases. In 1998, Georg Fischer, which employs 2,700, had group sales of EUR 391m.