- An Austrian Piano Manufacturer with a History of over 170 Years -
YAMAHA CORPORATION (Head office: Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan; President: Mitsuru Umemura; hereinafter: Yamaha) has announced that it has reached a basic agreement to purchase 100% of the shares of L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH (Head office: Vienna, Austria; hereinafter: Bösendorfer), a premium piano manufacturer from Austrian Bank BAWAG P.S.K. Group (hereinafter: BAWAG). Today, Yamaha signed a contract with BAWAG in Vienna.
Bösendorfer was founded in 1828 and is a manufacturer of premium pianos, especially concert grands. As a symbol of Vienna’s musical culture, Bösendorfer pianos sustain the city’s legacy of unique, warm, and rich sound-creation combined with top-quality production, based on a long tradition of craftsmanship, and has many fans principally among pianists and professional musicians. After becoming a subsidiary of Kimball Piano and Organ Company, a U.S. piano manufacturer, in 1966, Bösendorfer was acquired in 2002 by the BAWAG an Austrian financial group.
Yamaha began the manufacturing of pianos in 1900 and has built a position as a full-line supplier, offering a wide range of pianos led by the top-of-the-line concert grand CFIIIS. In addition, Yamaha maintains a branch of its European subsidiary in Vienna and has nurtured close ties with the musical community in Vienna. Over the years, at the request of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, along with the decrease in the number of local instrument manufacturers, Yamaha has developed, and is continuing to manufacture, instrument groups that inherit Vienna’s sound and musical tradition, including Vienna oboes and Vienna horns in the wind instruments section.
Bösendorfer pianos, too, have a uniquely Viennese resonance, and the traditional methods of manufacturing have been preserved. In its management role, Yamaha believes that, going forward, it will be possible to support the healthy growth and development of Bösendorfer and contribute to sustaining Vienna’s musical culture and traditions for future generations.
Regarding the full acquisition of Bösendorfer shares, BAWAG indicated its intention of making the shares available to potential acquirers through off-market bidding. Although a number of companies indicated an interest in the acquisition, Yamaha was selected as the acquirer for final negotiations on November 28 and, subsequently, conducted discussions to reach agreement.
Yamaha made its decision to acquire 100% of Bösendorfer’s shares based on its judgment that the acquisition will make it possible to draw fully on the strengths and special features of both Yamaha and Bösendorfer pianos to contribute to musical culture through continuing to offer top-quality pianos to the market and significantly enhancing Yamaha’s presence in the premium piano market.
Outline of the Agreement
1. Yamaha will receive 100% of the shares of Bösendorfer from BAWAG.
2. The actual transfer of the shares is expected to take place in early 2008 after the completion of legal procedures.
3. It is Yamaha’s intention to continue to manufacture at the Bösendorfer facilities in Austria.
Outline of Related Companies
Outline of Bösendorfer
Official company name: L. Bösendorfer Klavierfabrik GmbH
Address: Graf Starhemberg Gasse, 1040 Vienna, Austria
Date of establishment: 1828
Ownership: Since 2002, Bösendorfer has been a subsidiary of BAWAG P.S.K. Group (of Austria).
Representative: Alfred Zellinger (CEO)
Number of employees: 180
Line of business: Manufacturing and sale of pianos
Paid-in capital: Approximately 2.2 million euros (Fiscal 2006)
Net sales: Approximately 13.5 million euros (Fiscal 2006)
Total assets: Approximately 15.7 million euros (Fiscal 2006)
Outline of BAWAG
Official company name: BAWAG P.S.K. Bank für Arbeit und Wirtschaft und Österreichische Postsparkasse Aktiengesellschaft
Address: Seitzergasse 2- 4, A-1010 Vienna, Austria
Representative: Ewald Nowotny (CEO)
Number of employees: 6,670
Line of business: Banking
Share Capital: 250 million euros (Fiscal 2006)
Total assets: Approximately 50.8 billion euros (Fiscal 2006)
For further information, please contact
Yamaha Corporation
Public Relations Division, Public Relations Group
TEL. +81-3-5488-6601
FAX. +81-3-5488-5060
Visit Yamaha's website at
http://www.global.yamaha.com/