Prague (17 September 2009) – AVIA celebrated the 90th anniversary of the company’s establishment. Ninety Years of AVIA, a book mapping the history of the company from the time it was established up to the present day, was published to mark the occasion. The book release celebration held at the Prague Aviation Museum, Kbely was attended by prominent personalities from the corporate and social world. Several AVIA planes are on display at the museum.
Ing. Vladimír Tošovský, Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, launched the book release celebration. Tošovský received the book from the author, Václav Šorel.
On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the company, AVIA, a.s. donated CZK 100,000 to the Prague Aviation Museum, Kbely. Michael Saran, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AVIA, presented the check to the Director of the Military Historical Institute, Colonel Aleš Knížek.
Guests at the company’s 90th anniversary party viewed a number of the museum’s planes presented in the book.
A 3D model of a development project by AVIA a.s. received considerable attention. The model presented planned changes for the 60 hectare grounds in Letňany and Čakovice into a future site for urban development with mixed use. This location is set to become a centre for technological innovation and development.
 

Photo gallery:

 AVIA, a.s., Energy Division, has published new gas prices for the local network, to take effect as of 1 June 2009. The new pricelist is available from our website.

The new modern graphic layout emphasizes the company’s main activities – real estate development, real estate management and maintenance, commercial space leasing and power engineering.
 

The website’s home page offers basic information on each of these fields in order to give visitors to www.avia-as.com a clear impression of AVIA’s wide range of activities. The website will be progressively updated and expanded to include new items, particularly those involving the real estate development division.
 

Alexis Prag was in charge of the website development.
 

The sale is subject to the completion of certain conditions as well as corporate and statutory approvals by both Ashok Leyland and AVIA.

AVIA’s Truck Business Unit, manufactures trucks in the medium truck segment in Prague. AVIA Trucks’ main markets are the Czech Republic, Hungary, UK, Ireland, Italy, Slovakia and Spain. AVIA was revived in 2005 through an aggressive restructuring and investment program following Odien’s acquisition. AVIA recently expanded its 6 to 9 tonne GVW (gross vehicle weight) D-Line series product range to 12 tonnes with the introduction of its 10 tonne (D100), 11 tonne (D110) and 12 tonne (D120) models. The new models were fully developed in-house in less than a year and were introduced with EURO 4 engine technology in early June at AUTOTEC 2006, the Czech Republic’s biennial commercial vehicle fair in Brno.

Ashok Leyland, an Indian commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Chennai had 2005 annual revenues in excess of USD 1.2 billion and exports to over 30 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America. Ashok Leyland is part of the Hinduja Group, a multi billion dollar transnational conglomerate with a diversified portfolio of businesses. “AVIA is part of our inorganic growth plan and is a significant step in securing a beachhead in the European Union and the Eastern European markets. The acquisition will also give us a modern, international vehicle for our light and medium commercial vehicle range of trucks for India and other export markets”, said Mr. R. Seshasayee, Managing Director of Ashok Leyland. The strategic location of AVIA also opens up possibilities of using its facilities as an assembly and marketing base for some of Ashok Leyland’s future products. Ashok also intends to use the AVIA brand for some commercial vehicles planned to be produced in the future.

“It is a very compelling fit. Ashok Leyland will gain a modern truck, design capabilities, and access to the European market and AVIA Truck Business Unit will gain a strategic parent resulting in significant savings in purchasing and access to Ashok’s existing markets. The strategic rationale and the combined capabilities under Ashok ownership have the potential to make AVIA Trucks a global player.” said Mr. Michael Saran, Chairman of AVIA, a.s.


COMPANY PROFILES

About AVIA: AVIA, a.s. is an Odien Group company. AVIA, a.s. based in Prague, Czech Republic was founded as an aircraft and engine manufacturer in 1919. With 400 employees working in its production facilities in Prague, AVIA is comprised of three business units: TBU, OEM, and REN. The company produces and sells trucks with GVW vehicles ranging from 6 to 12 tonnes through its Truck Business Unit (TBU), supplies machined and pressed products to customers primarily in the transport sector through its Original Equipment (OEM) Business Unit, and manages the company’s real estate and other holdings through its REN Business Unit. Following an aggressive restructuring program and supported by investment capital from Odien and active management participation, AVIA underwent a significant revitalization and new product development program in 2005 and early 2006.

About Odien: Odien Capital Partners L.P. is a private investment firm which specializes in corporate turnarounds and restructurings. The Odien Group is active in Central and Eastern Europe and has regional offices in Prague and Istanbul.

About Ashok Leyland: Ashok Leyland, Ltd., based in Chennai, India is a major commercial vehicle manufacturer in India. Ashok Leylands 2005 turnover was in excess of US $ 1.2 billion, with international operations contributing US $ 97 million. The Company has an annual production capacity of 77,000 commercial vehicles and 87,000 diesel engines and exports to over 30 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America. Ashok Leyland’s product range includes 19 seaters to 80 seaters for passenger transport including double deckers, vestibuled buses and low floor buses. Its truck range consists of 4x2 rigid vehicles, tippers, multi-axle vehicles and tractor-trailers spanning 7.5T GVW to 49T GTW, with a power range of 90 hp to 260 hp and soon 350 hp. A technology leader for over five decades, Ashok Leyland is a pioneer in CNG-driven vehicles and developed Indias first hybrid electric vehicle in 2002. Ashok Leyland is the leader in Indian bus market - the Company made buses carry an estimated 70 million passengers every day. Ashok Leyland is also the largest supplier of logistics vehicles to the Indian army and one of the worlds largest manufacturers of medium duty defence logistics vehicles.

About the Hinduja Group: Ashok Leyland is part of the Hinduja Group, a multi billion dollar transnational conglomerate with a diversified portfolio of businesses, which provides a variety of products and services worldwide. The Group has structured themselves into four core business areas, namely: Global Holdings & Trading, Investment Banking, Global Investment and Hinduja Foundation. Under Global Holdings, the Group has strategic interests in Transportation, Banking & Finance, Energy, Chemicals & Agriculture, Media & Communications, IT, Real Estate and Project Development sectors. The Hinduja Foundation reflects global initiatives in health, education, art and culture and social welfare.

Both the 12 tonne and EURO 4 engine projects have been brought to fruition by a development investment by Odien Group, its 98.4% shareholder, and ably demonstrate AVIA Truck Business Unit’s ability to develop new products reliably in a short time frame.

The new AVIA D120 is launched initially in the Czech market in EURO 3 form and has a gross vehicle weight of 11.99 tonnes, with kerbweights starting from only 3300kg. It includes a new frame, new suspension and new axles, which incorporate full air disc brakes on front and rear. Both 10 tonne and 11 tonne models variants are also offered (D100 and D110 respectively), along with a choice of 17.5”and 19.5” wheel and tyre equipment. The twelve tonne segment is growing rapidly in Europe and D120 will double the market segment available to AVIA.

AVIA has also chosen AUTOTEC to show the public it’s new EURO 4 models, fitted with the all-new 4.5 litre Cummins ISBe4 EURO4 engine with SCR (selective catalytic reduction) technology. The new Cummins engines have power outputs of 160 and 185 hp, with a de-rated 140 hp variant also available. At AUTOTEC, AVIA will also display this new technology in a D100, its 10 tonne truck ,complete with extended sleeper cab.

EURO 4 will be generally available for all markets from September 2006, in all AVIA models spanning the gross weight range from 6.0 tonnes to 11.99 tonnes.
 

AVIA extends its range to 12 tonnes

One year of AVIA under Odien’s wings 

This covers the supply of AVIA D75 chassis cabs with box van bodies and support services over the next five years. The award of this contract follows the recent acquistion of DAEWOO AVIA a.s. (“AVIA”) by Odien Capital Partners (“ODIEN”).

Speaking from Prague, Andy Granger, AVIA’s Marketing and Sales Director, was delighted with the outcome. “As one of the UK’s leading and most demanding fleet operators, Royal Mail’s decision to buy AVIA trucks shows confidence in both the product and the AVIA company. This contract is a tribute to our R and D staff and our production department, both of whom worked on a customer focussed programme to produce the Royal Mail specification.”

Strict back to back tests by Royal Mail showed the AVIA D75 to have the best fuel consumption figures in the 7.5 tonne gvw class.

ODIEN ACQUIRES DAEWOO AVIA, A.S IN PRAGUE