Muehlhan AG

Legal Proceedings Report • Feb 25, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 25 February 2009 08:09

Muehlhan AG wins lawsuit in the US offshore business

Muehlhan AG / Legal Matter/Miscellaneous

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The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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PRESS RELEASE

Muehlhan AG wins lawsuit in the US offshore business

* Claim for damages of USD 1.43 million

Hamburg, 25 February 2009 - Muehlhan AG (Entry Standard; ISIN
DE000A0KD0F7), which provides professional steel surface protection
services worldwide, has won its lawsuit for damages against two former
employees and a competing company in the Oil & Gas Offshore business in the
Gulf of Mexico. At the beginning of this week, the eight jurors at a
Federal Court in Houston, Texas, USA, agreed with Muehlhan's charges that
the former employees had acted in bad faith.

In mid-2006, the then Managing Director of the Muehlhan subsidiary Meaux
Surface Protection Inc., in Lafayette, Louisiana, set up his own company
and began competing directly with Muehlhan after resigning from his job at
the end of 2006. It turned out that he had made extensive preparations to
get his company up and running while still working as Muehlhan's Managing
Director. Among other things, this was particularly damaging because of the
fact that he actively poached a large number of employees and key
customers. He was supported in these activities by another executive who
left the company at the same time. As a result, Muehlhan experienced a
sharp decline in business in 2007.

The trial court ruled that both of the former employees and the newly
founded competing company are jointly and severally liable to pay total
damages of USD 1.43 million (EUR 1.12 million). It is not yet clear whether
the decision will be appealed.

About Muehlhan:
The Muehlhan Group is a leading world provider of marine surface
protection. Its core business consists of applying and renewing corrosion
protection coatings to steel structures. They include steel surfaces of
ships and of oil and gas rigs and platforms. The Muehlhan Group is also
active in the Industry Services segment, which, besides scaffolding for
marine and industry customers, includes surface protection for wind
turbines, chemical production plants, and fuel storage depots, steel
bridges, cranes, and machinery. The company's patented technology
brand-named μ-jet(R) guarantees especially high quality and efficiency
in the removal of old coatings and rust, particularly in the open sea.
Muehlhan was established in Hamburg in 1881 and employs some 2,500
employees around the world. For 2008 the company expects revenue of EUR 200
million (IFRS). For further information visit www.muehlhan.com.

Press contact: Ties Kaiser c/o Muehlhan AG, Phone +49 40 752 71 156, email:
kaiser@muehlhan.com

25.02.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

Language: English
Issuer: Muehlhan AG
Schlinckstrasse 3
21107 Hamburg
Deutschland
Phone: +49 40 75271 0
Fax: +49 40 75271 130
E-mail: investorrelations@muehlhan.com
Internet: www.muehlhan.com
ISIN: DE000A0KD0F7
WKN: A0KD0F
Listed: Freiverkehr in Berlin, Hamburg, München, Stuttgart; Entry
Standard in Frankfurt

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