United Group (UGL)

Shares / Stock Code

UGL

Stock Exchange / Sharemarket

ax

United Group (UGL) is Australia's leading broad-based infrastructure and services group. Its principal activities incorporate industrial maintenance, manufacturing and engineering services, and development and maintenance of resources and industrial properties. The Company has its business operations in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, North America, and in parts of Europe and Middle East. United Group listed on the Australian Stock Exchange on 19 December, 1994. The Company has over 30,000 employees.UGL also develops and maintains rolling stock and associated infrastructure. The Company provides business outsourcing solutions of corporate real estate, facilities management, procurement and human resources. It has four main operating divisions, which consists of United Group Limited Infrastructure; United Group Limited Rail, which is focused on designing, manufacturing, engineering, maintenance and spare parts solutions to the rail and light rail sectors; United Group Limited Resources, which is involved in providing manufacturing, project management, construction, maintenance and asset management services to clients in the resources, oil and gas, petrochemicals and minerals industry, and United Group Limited, an outsourcing company. UGL announced the acquisition of UNICCO Service Company in September 2007.

The Company's strong growth is a result of acquisitions which has also been the distinguishing factor for the Company among other heavy engineering operators. UGL has always been on the lookout for value-adding acquisitions under its current management team. UGL has strong collaborations with other technology companies like Siemens, ABB, Aker Kvaerner, Mitsubishi and GE.

United Group History

UGL commenced as a small engineering construction firm in Western Australia in late 1970s. The Company was integrated in 1986. It changed its name to United Construction Group in 1988. UGL then operated as infrastructure and industrial services company having market cap of $3.3 billion and approaching revenue of $4 billion. In 1994, United Construction was listed on ASX. The Company was renamed to United Group Limited in 1997. In 1998, UGL completed the acquisition of Kilpatrick Green, a Sydney-based electrical and mechanical construction company. Since then the Company’s major acquisitions consists of rail rolling stock manufacturer Goninan from Howard Smith in 1999, business process outsourcing group KFPW in 2002, Thames Water Projects Asia in 2004, Singaporean real estate services company PREMAS and ALSTOM's Australian and New Zealand transport and rail businesses in 2005, Chicago based Equis Corporation in 2006, and Newton (Boston) based UNICCO Service Company in 2007.