Two strong brands to join forces in future.

Ried/Liezen. While many companies are still travelling with the handbrake slightly on, Wintersteiger AG from Ried im Innkreis is focusing on expansion. As of the end of April 2011, the Austrian company will acquire the majority share of BootDoc Handels GmbH from Liezen. The well-known company from Styria is a respected specialist producing footbeds for sports and all day use, analysis systems, compression stockings and foam liners and in the business year just past achieved sales of some EUR 1.7 million.

The acquisition means that two strong brands will benefit from valuable synergy effects in the future. Further development of the successful BootDoc brand is assured in the long term and both companies also have the same target group in their sights in the sports sector.

The BootDoc products will gain vital additional momentum due to inclusion in Wintersteiger's global sales and distribution network. Worldwide customers will benefit in particular from new stimuli in products and services. Marcus Piber, Wintersteiger's Managing Director of Sales, Marketing and Public Relations, said, "By acquiring the majority share in BootDoc, we have taken a significant step towards further development and expansion in what is for us a very important product segment. We have gained a proven brand with well established, high-quality products for the same target group. Combined with Wintersteiger's sales and service quality, we want to offer existing and future customers the best possible service."

Site and team to be retained.
Wintersteiger can also count on the valuable expertise from Styria in the future. There will be no changes at the site of BootDoc Handels GmbH in Liezen or to the professional team. Under the motto "individuality of feet - 360° feet first", the teams from Wintersteiger and BootDoc will be pulling together in future and using their strengths for the common good of their customers. While BootDoc will remain the skills centre for the development of any products to do with feet within the Wintersteiger Group, the Group's headquarters in Ried will handle global sales, marketing and logistics. Work is already underway on the details for implementing this. In return, Wintersteiger will discontinue sales of the Conform'able sports shoe inlays on the Austrian and Italian markets at the end of January 2012. 

Figures, Data, Facts:
WINTERSTEIGER AG
Established: 1953
Headquarters: Johann-Michael-Dimmelstrasse 9, 4910 Ried im Innkreis, Austria
Markets: in Europe, North America, South America, Asia.
Sales in business year 2009: EUR 81.1 million
Number of employees: 603
Export quota: 87%
Internet: www.wintersteiger.com

Figures, Data, Facts:
BootDoc Handels GmbH:
Established: 2003
Location: Wirtschaftspark C10, 8940 Liezen, Austria
Markets: in Europe
Sales in business year 2009/10: EUR 1.7 million

Number of employees: 9
Export quota: 55%
Internet: www.boot-doc.com