Wienerberger acquires Serbian Univerzum Group
Wienerberger, an international provider of products for the entire building envelope, in the fields of new build and renovation, as well as infrastructure in water and energy management, has signed an agreement to acquire Univerzum Export-Import DOO (or “Univerzum Group”), the leading producer of clay blocks in Serbia with approximately 200 employees and a projected turnover of 20 million euros for 2026. The company announced this in a press release dated May 18, 2026.
By acquiring the market leader of clay blocks in Serbia, Wienerberger plans to gain an optimal position in this key market. The construction sector in Serbia as well as in Southeastern Europe is growing, and the demand for clay blocks is expected to increase due to catch-up effects, supporting sustainable, above‑average volume growth. In addition, cross-selling opportunities with established roofing activities will further strengthen the company‘s market position in Serbia and the Southeastern Region.
Heimo Scheuch, CEO of Wienerberger, says: “This step not only increases our exposure to this dynamic market but also expands our portfolio of innovative construction solutions, complementing our growing roofing business in the region. The business is projected to deliver around 20 million euros in revenues in 2026, combined with highly attractive margins and offers strong value creation potential through a synergized EV/EBITDA multiple of approximately 5x.“Scheuch goes on to explain that one reason for such acquisitions is the ability to immediately boost the group’s earnings.
In Serbia, clay blocks remain the predominant wall material. In particular, residential construction and renovation activity remained resilient and is expected to grow – supported by demographic trends, housing undersupply, and increasing quality standards.
The two production sites of the Univerzum Group in Arandelovac in the south of Belgrade and in Indija in the north of the city are ideally located to serve the Serbian market. The Univerzum Group also complements Wienerberger’s existing regional production footprint for wall building materials in Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary and Romania, strengthening its position across Southeastern Europe.
Transaction Details
The scope of the planned transaction comprises the stepwise acquisition of 100 percent of the shares in Univerzum Export-Import DOO, which results in a distribution of the purchase price payments between 2026 and 2027. The transaction remains subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities and the satisfaction of other conditions typical for a transaction of this nature.
