Schneider Electric Acquires SolveIT Software

ADELAIDE, Australia - Schneider Electric (SU:EN Paris), a global specialist in energy management, has signed an agreement to acquire SolveIT Software (SolveIT), an Adelaide-headquartered scientific software provider specialising in supply & demand chain optimisation and predictive modelling.

SolveIT's applications are recognized globally for enabling organisations such as Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and Xstrata optimize production and demand chain activities. SolveIT's advanced demand planning and forecasting tools help industrial operations to manage their end to end demand chain and execute optimised plans taking into account existing and future constraints such as impact of workforce variability and market conditions. SolveIT tools also help optimize production, storage, logistics and distribution activities by running predictive analysis and "what if" simulations.

The acquisition complements Schneider Electric's solutions offering in the operations management space by providing the forecasting, optimisation and modelling capability on top of Schneider Electric's market leading production analytics tools in the mining, minerals, metals and general manufacturing sectors. Together, this combined capability is a unique differentiator in the market and provides a capability that the major industrial players are currently demanding. The combined platform will enable customers to deliver more from their existing assets than ever before and thereby maximise profitability per unit output.

Schneider Electric has a long history of acquisitions in Australia capitalising on local knowledge and design to improve solutions offering for targeted market segments in Australia and overseas. With SolveIT, Schneider Electric will be able to offer customers more visibility in the complex and fast moving industries. Now more than ever customers are being pressured to deliver more competitively and Schneider Electric is now in a perfect position to deliver it. With comprehensive predictive modelling for production planning, scheduling and optimization, the acquisition of SolveIT will help customers to unlock the utilisation and productivity that exists in their current assets but was previously not visible.

SolveIT's award winning applications are based on proprietary platforms for advanced optimisation, prediction, and what-if analysis, and can optimise production and supply chain activities on both a local (plant) and global (network) level. SolveIT's mining software applications cover exploration management, mine planning and scheduling, and mine-to-port logistics optimisation.


About Schneider Electric

As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in Utilities & Infrastructures, Industries & Machine Manufacturers, Non-residential Buildings, Data Centres & Networks and in Residential. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the Group's 130,000 plus employees achieved sales of 22.4 billion euros in 2011, through an active commitment to help individuals and organisations make the most of their energy.

www.schneider-electric.com


About SolveIT Software

SolveIT Software Pty Ltd is an Australian company specialising in supply & demand optimisation and predictive modelling. With more than 150 employees across 5 offices, SolveIT offers enterprise advanced planning software for supply chain network optimisation and demand planning & forecasting. SolveIT's mining software applications cover exploration management, mine planning and scheduling, and pit-to-port logistics optimisation. Customers of SolveIT Software include Rio Tinto Iron Ore, BHP Iron Ore, Viterra, Pacific National Coal, Incitec Pivot, Foster's Group, Nufarm, Liquor Marketing Group, PFD Food Services, Pernod Ricard, Fortescue Metals Group, Xstrata Copper/Zinc/Coal, BMA Coal, Hancock Prospecting, ElectraNet, Crossland Resources, and CBH Group.

Forward-looking (safe harbour) statement

Statements made in this news release that relate to future plans, events or performances are forward-looking statements. Any statement containing words such as "believes", "plans", "expects" or "intends" and other statements which are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking, and these statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations. Consequently, actual results could differ materially from the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements.

Contact Details:
SolveIT Software Pty Ltd
Level 1, 99 Frome Street, Adelaide, SA 5000
P.O. Box 3161, Adelaide, SA 5000
Phone: +61 8 8221-5533
Fax: +61 8 8221-5677
contact@solveitsoftware.com