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M&A Activity • Dec 18, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 18 December 2009 08:20

ARQUES Industries AG sells British automotive glass specialist, Auto

ARQUES Industries AG / Disposal

18.12.2009

Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by
DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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ARQUES Industries AG sells British automotive glass specialist, Auto
Windscreens

• Sales proceeds to the value of more than 10 million EUR
• Secondary transaction after conclusion of first restructuring phase

Munich, December 18, 2009. ARQUES Industries AG (ISIN DE0005156004) has
sold the British automotive glass specialist, Auto Windscreens, within the
context of a secondary transaction to a German-English family office.
ARQUES had acquired Auto Windscreens in December 2008 for a symbolic
purchase price. In total ARQUES booked net proceeds to the value of more
than 10 million EUR from its involvement in Auto Windscreens, which is to
be utilised for the scheduled repayment of financial liabilities and the
strengthening of the investment portfolio.

The British automotive glass specialist, Auto Windscreens, generated
revenues to the value of approximately 125 million EUR in 2008. After the
acquisition, ARQUES established independent medium-size structures within
the company and introduced strict cost management. Simultaneously Auto
Windscreens was established as an independent brand and the sales approach
intensified. Hereby the initial restructuring phase could be concluded at
an early stage enabling a successful secondary transaction. The buyer will
continue the reorganisation of the company in co-operation with the
existing management which will retain its equity interests in the company.

'After the successful sale of the British School of Motoring a few weeks
ago, we have again succeeded in selling a further company, which we have
recently acquired, with a nameable cash inflow. We will utilise the sales
proceeds for the scheduled reduction of financial liabilities as well as to
strengthen and develop our investment portfolio', said Hans Gisbert Ulmke,
chairman of the ARQUES Industries AG executive board.

In the context of the consolidation of the portfolio of subsidiaries ARQUES
has sold 12 companies in 2009 and acquired one company. Thus ARQUES limited
the Group's risks significantly. Financial liabilities have been reduced
from EUR 212.0 million to EUR 94.5 million since December 31, 2008. After
the consolidation of the portfolio has been completed, ARQUES will
concentrate more heavily on growth in 2010.

About ARQUES
ARQUES Industries AG, Munich, (www.arques.de) is a business partner of
conglomerates regarding company spin-offs and a turnaround specialist who
focuses on the acquisition and the active restructuring of companies in
transitional situations, in order to develop these, with its own team and
own resources, to competitive enterprises with a positive yield. ARQUES
revitalizes its subsidiaries' potential for creating value for the benefit
of all its stakeholders, taking on the relevant social responsibility. The
shares of ARQUES Industries AG are traded on the regulated market (Prime
Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol 'AQU' (ISIN:
DE0005156004) and are listed in the SDAX.

ARQUES Industries AG
Corporate Communication
Christian Schneider
Email: schneider@arques.de
Tel.: +49 (0) 89/ 25 55 00 - 0

18.12.2009 Ad hoc announcement, Financial News and Media Release distributed by DGAP.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de

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Language: English
Company: ARQUES Industries AG
Arnulf Office Park - Arnulfstraße 37-39
80636 München
Deutschland
Phone: +49 89/255500-0
Fax: +49 89/255500-200
E-mail: schneider@arques.de
Internet: www.arques.de
ISIN: DE0005156004
WKN: 515600
Indices: SDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Düsseldorf, München, Hamburg, Stuttgart

End of News DGAP News-Service

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