Brady set to Become Largest European Commodities Software Provider

LONDON, November 29, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Brady plc (http://www.bradyplc.com/ ) (BRY.L), the leading supplier of trading and risk management solutions for metals and commodities, announced today their acquisition of Viz Risk Management (http://www.viz.no/ ) ("Viz"), the leading provider of risk management and trading solutions to the European energy markets, principally electricity, gas, emission certificates and coal. This acquisition is expected to make Brady the largest European provider of specialist integrated trading and risk management solutions to the global metals, commodity and energy markets. Brady's successful GBP15 million share placing with existing and new investors will finance the acquisition and further increase Brady's cash resources, and is seen as a transformational deal; completion is anticipated in December 2010.

Founded in 1992 in Norway, Viz has a client-base of major European energy participants in electricity, gas, coal and emissions, using their market-leading Elviz ETRM trading and risk management solutions. Elviz ETRM will be Brady's offering in the energy sector and will be part of their "single source - single view" strategy.

Gavin Lavelle, Brady CEO, said, "We aim to be the definitive global partner of choice for trading, risk management and settlement solutions across all commodities and energy products. Viz will greatly strengthen our offerings for energy markets. Our successful track record of fast and efficient integration of acquired companies makes us confident that clients will quickly see tangible, long-term benefits."

Frank Carlsen, Viz CEO commented, "Elviz ETRM is the market standard for European energy trading and risk management. Our close relationships with the energy markets have resulted in the most advanced solutions for real-time trading, pricing, analysis and risk management. Becoming part of Brady makes good strategic and commercial sense, and is a major opportunity to take Elviz ETRM to the global energy community. Brady's complementary solutions, geographical coverage and strong balance sheet will help our customers and accelerate growth."

The acquisition is expected to facilitate further growth, extending Brady's reach into Northern and Western Europe. It comes quickly after the successful acquisitions of Viveo (2010), and Comsoft (2009); both have significantly grown and are performing ahead of plans. Brady will be able to offer full cross-commodity coverage, with integrated solutions for the entire lifecycle of commodities and energy trading from capture, through processing, inventory, invoicing and reporting P&L on trades.

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