Aurelius SE & Co. KGaA

M&A Activity • May 24, 2012

News Details

Corporate | 24 May 2012 13:53

AURELIUS subsidiary LD DIDACTIC acquires Feedback Instruments, UK’s leading provider of teaching and educational equipment

AURELIUS AG / Key word(s): Acquisition

24.05.2012 / 13:53

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AURELIUS subsidiary LD DIDACTIC acquires Feedback Instruments, UK's leading provider of teaching and educational equipment

Synergy effects and international market shares for long-term growth

– Teaching systems for technical engineering training as a key driver for long-term growth

– Strengthening of LD's regional market position in the UK and US

– The 'Feedback Instruments' brand will remain

Hürth, Crowborough (UK), May 24, 2012 – The AURELIUS subsidiary LD DIDACTIC GmbH, Hürth (Germany), a worldwide leading manufacturer of high-quality natural science and technical teaching systems for schools, colleges and universities, and vocational training, has acquired Feedback Instruments Ltd., ( Crowborough/UK) and its distribution affiliate Feedback Inc., (NC/USA) from Feedback plcSince 1958, Feedback Instruments has been designing and manufacturing engineering teaching equipment for universities, colleges and training institutes offering an extensive range of educational equipment, designed to support teaching electrical engineering principles and applications.

The acquisition of the leading British manufacturer of engineering education equipment will further strengthen LD DIDACTIC international market position by adding Feedback Instrument's entities in UK and the USA as well as sales representatives in numerous countries worldwide to LD Didactic Group., For the ongoing fiscal year 2012, Feedback Instruments estimates sales of approx. EUR 7 million and currently employs approx. 40 staff in the UK and the US. With the Feedback acquisition, LD DIDACTIC is increasing its focus on the growing Engineering Education segment. LD DIDACTIC's sales revenues in the Engineering Education Equipment segment will double as a result of the takeover.

Feedback Instrument's teaching equipment segment has an excellent direct marketing network in its domestic markets England and the USA. In addition, around 2/3 of Feedback Instrument's sales are generated with international customers. By adding Feedback Instruments, the overall LD DIDACTIC export share will increase to more than 60 percent further supporting LD DIDACTIC's long-term internationally-oriented growth strategy. 'The combination of both companies' strengths improves our global competitiveness and positions us internationally as one of the leading manufacturers of teaching equipment materials,' says LD DIDACTIC Managing Director Eric Blumenthal.

Both companies are present worldwide with similar products. The systematic consolidation of important operating functions such as development or marketing harbors significant synergy effects. However, the Feedback Instruments Business will continue as an independent business line within LD Group with its own brand and market presence. 'LD DIDACTIC continues to grow, following the successful reorganisation by AURELIUS. Internationally, Feedback is as strong a brand as Leybold. We are very proud that it is now a part of LD DIDACTIC's teaching equipment business. The takeover should significantly improve the profitability of the entire LD Group,' says Blumenthal.

About LD DIDACTIC

LD DIDACTIC GmbH is a worldwide leading manufacturer of high-quality natural science and technical teaching systems for schools, colleges and universities, and vocational training. LD DIDACTIC markets its products and comprehensive solutions under the brand name Leybold. LEYBOLD products enliven classroom instruction and make it easier for instructors, teachers, and academic lecturers to prepare for lectures. In addition to all necessary devices for conducting experiments or practical exercises, LD DIDACTIC offers complete experiment sets, including appropriate instructions. The LEYBOLD product range offers comprehensive solutions for the subjects of physics, chemistry, and biology. Complex topics from the areas of automotive technology, electrotechnology, and renewable energies can be communicated effectively with the help of didactic teaching systems from the area of technology.

Contact

Gudrun Kreisz

Telephone +49 (2233) 604-112

Fax +49 (2233) 604-512

gkreisz@ld-didactic.de

**About Aurelius

**The AURELIUS Group specializes in acquiring companies with development potential and providing them with operational support. With respect to the acquisition of subsidiaries, AURELIUS strives to identify, analyze, develop and exploit all available opportunities in the market. The AURELIUS Group understands itself to be a GOOD HOME for its subsidiaries on a long-term basis. Although its acquisition activities are not limited to a certain sector, AURELIUS has placed a certain emphasis on the following sectors: industrial enterprises, chemicals, business services, consumer goods/food & beverage and telecommunications, media & technology.

AURELIUS has many years of investment and management experience in different industries and sectors. AURELIUS improves the performance of its subsidiaries by providing management capacities and the necessary financial resources for investing in innovative products, sales and research. AURELIUS is a globally active company with offices in Munich and London and subsidiaries in Germany, Great Britain, France, Poland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as China and Malaysia. The shares of AURELIUS AG are traded in the Open Market segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the m:access of the Munich Stock Exchange under ISIN DE000A0JK2A8. Additional information can be found at www.aureliusinvest.de .

Contact

Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

Telephone +49 (89) 544799 – 0

Fax +49 (89) 544799 – 55

investor@aureliusinvest.de

End of Corporate News

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