Hess AG acquires a 100 % stake in the Frankfurt company emdelight GmbH

Hess AG increases its share from 40 % to 100 % in emdelight GmbH The acquisition strategically positions Hess for international projects and secures access to top architects. Thomas Emde joins Hess AG's management.

Effective as of March 1, 2012, Hess AG has assumed full ownership of emdelight GmbH, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, raising its stake from 40 % to 100 %. The move gives Hess AG an ideal basis and optimum position on the world's architectural lighting market, providing the company with direct access to international projects and internationally noted architects and lighting designers. emdelight GmbH has enjoyed rapid growth for many years and in 2011 achieved a record turnover of 18 million euros. Both emdelight and Hess agreed to keep the share price confidential.

The acquisition is another step in the cooperation between the two companies that began in 2009. Thomas Emde, founder and manager of emdelight GmbH, will join Hess AG's management as Head of Creativity, and will be primarily responsible for product development, the architectural lighting project business and the strategic product marketing of Hess AG.

Thomas Emde, light artist, established emdelight in 1999. Since then, Emde has left his mark on many of the world's prominent buildings making them all the more unique with his creative worlds of light. Amongst his most significant works are the Tornado Tower in Doha, the Aspire Dome - the world's largest dome sport stadium - and the 15-km long shopping centre Barwa Commercial Avenue in Qatar, which Hess' lighting will illuminate when it opens this year. Both unmistakable symbols of Frankfurt's banking business, the Commerzbank Tower, and the old stock exchange, bear Thomas Emde's distinct, artistic touch in lighting.

"Artistic lighting requires advanced technology, outstanding design and a perpetual drive to innovate. That's exactly what we, together with emdelight, can offer our customers. Several completed projects, such as Tornado Tower in Qatar, are impressive examples of this. The acquisition was the next logical step in Hess AG's growth," agree Christoph Hess and Peter Ziegler, members of Hess AG's executive board. Stephan Leibold, Hess AG CCO, adds "We are proud to welcome Thomas Emde and his 25-member team with their vast know-how and experience gained from many successful major projects. Their addition significantly strengthens our competence in architectural lighting, which is one the fastest growing lighting markets. Such a perfect symbiosis of light architecture and modern design is a sure catalyst for new ideas and we are looking forward to the growth it promises."

Thomas Emde describes his motivation for merging his company with Hess: "In our collaboration with Hess, we have found them to be highly competent and have come to value this. In addition, they are one of the market leaders in outdoor lighting with high-quality aesthetic design. Thanks to Hess' strong market position, particularly, in LED lighting, they are the perfect complement to our product and service portfolio. The move solidifies our position on the international market and enables us to acquire and realise highly attractive projects both in Germany and abroad."

Hess AG is a leader on the international market for decorative outdoor lighting and for years has been a significant force in LED technology's dramatic advance in outdoor lighting. Hess' broad product diversity ensures the availability of the best lighting solution for every application in the illumination of public spaces. Unique aesthetic design, energy efficiency and maintenance-friendly construction characterise Hess products. Bearing the same design as the lighting products, Hess range of site furnishings perfectly matches the design of the individual luminaire families. Hess is thereby the only lighting manufacturer capable of supporting landscape architects and public architects in the design of public spaces, including squares, parks and even entire city sections. In fiscal 2011, Hess AG's turnover was 68 million euros and the company closed the year with 330 employees.

Thomas Emde, painter and light artist, founded emdelight GmbH in 1999. It wasn't long before the company in 2002 set up a project site office in Doha, Qatar.

Since the studio's beginning, the artists have captured the eye of the public with a host of highly acclaimed creative architectural lighting projects. The concept for the illumination of the Commerzbank's corporate centre was emdelight's brainchild as is the nighttime appearance of the Amiri Diwan Palace, the official residence of the Emir of Qatar. And the Frankfurt-based company continues to develop its international customer base, especially concentrating on the Middle East region. emdelight provides creative concepts, the development of project-specific products and works on site putting the light systems into operation. Over the years, many technical innovations and solutions have evolved through this process, leading to many international patents.