MND and Sergio Lima acquire majority stake in German ski lift manufacturer LST Loipolder, to be renamed LST Ropeway Systems

MND (Montagne & Neige Développement) and Sergio Lima (founder of Snowstar), commercial and industrial partners since last summer, announced their first commercial operation together to acquire majority stake in the German ski lift manufacturer LST Loipolder.

This acquisition comes as a logical continuation of the partnership between MND and Snowstar, world leader in ski safety and major operator in snow-making solutions respectively, which seeks to develop a cluster of ski lift manufacturing activities as part of a development strategy originating from their alliance in July 2011.

LST Loipolder Seilbahntechnische Anlagen GmbH, a family-owned company based near Munich, has been renamed LST Ropeway Systems by its new shareholders. Xavier Gallot-Lavallée and Sergio Lima will join the board of directors alongside Peter Glasl, who has been appointed as managing director. Loipolder’s 30 employees shall remain on in the company in their current positions and further recruitments are expected for France, Turkey and Italy. The company, which has all the necessary safety and quality certifications, has been manufacturing “Made in Germany” ski lifts for more than 20 years:

1. Platter lifts
2. T-bar lifts
3. Fixed-grip chairlift (2 and 4 passengers)
4. Detachable chairlifts (4 passengers).

This shared acquisition provides both partners with manufacturing facilities in Germany and access to high-level technology and manufacturing. Furthermore, it gives the partners the opportunity to consolidate themselves in a new market of ski lift manufacturing, initiated by Snowstar in 2010, and to complement their range and know-how. In fact, the Snowstar group already designs and manufactures platter lifts and fixed-grip chairlifts (systems installed in Italy and Turkey) and has developed a service to “re-locate” second-hand multibrand equipment (dismantling, control, standardization and reinstallation of the equipment on another site), for which it holds accreditation as constructor from the Italian Ministry of Transport. LST will have the support of its new shareholders in backing its aspirations for growth. The locally distributed company will be able to extend its presence internationally through its incorporation in the MND and Snowstar distribution network, implemented in more than twenty countries.

The MND and Snowstar groups became partners last year with the goal to becoming a major operator in ski equipment and development thanks to their complementary
activities. This acquisition is in line with their ambitious growth strategy and provides additional know-how for their expertise in mountain development. Apart from offering solutions for protection, equipment and safety, and snowmaking solutions for ski areas, the partners are currently investing in the area of ski lifts.

About MND Group
The MND (Montagne et Neige Développement) Group is a cluster of leading international companies offering natural hazard prevention, equipment and safety solutions for ski areas and sports facilities. It currently employees 145 people and is expected to have a turnover of € 40M in 2012, two-thirds of which result from exports. From R&D to manufacturing, sales to installation, the Group offers a large range of innovative and topclass products and services that can be found at www.mnd-group.com

About LST Ropeway Systems: www.lst-ropeway.com