AMNYTT Nr 4 - 2012 | Page 42

AMNYTT VEDLEGG 42 / 93 AMNYTT #4 2012 AMNYTT VEDLEGG 43 / 93 ARC Insights, Page 2 AMNYTT #4 What is it about metering that makes suppliers tend to be smaller, inde- JULY 26, 2012 M&A Moves Smart Meter Market pendent firms? Why doesn't it make obvious sense to consolidate metering within the portfolios of major smart grid solutions suppliers such as ABB and Siemens? Why are metering companies so distinct? ARC Advisory By Harry Forbes Group believes there are a number of reasons for this industry structure. Keywords Meter Suppliers Are High-Volume Manufacturers Smart Grid, Smart Meters, AMI, Mergers and Acquisitions First, meter manufacturers are fundamentally high-volume industrial de- Yet More Smart Grid Mergers and Acquisitions The tide of smart grid-related mergers and acquisitions continues unabated. vice manufacturing operations. In the era of smart meters these devices have become far more complex, making them challenging to manufacture, service, and support in an economical manner. Smart meters require twoway communication networks and solid network security. These competences are new and orthogonal to the traditional crit- On June 12 of this year shares of meter supplier Elster (NYSE:ELT) rose 12 ical-to-quality factors in meter manufacturing. percent on buyout speculation. On June 29 Elster announced that it was The second acquisition of a major supplier of smart meter ́ݥѡ