Aurelius SE & Co. KGaA

M&A Activity • Jan 21, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 21 January 2009 13:24

AURELIUS plans takeover of LD Didactic Group

AURELIUS AG / Acquisition

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

---

• 20 percent stake acquired via investor consortium
• Complete takeover planned subject to anti-trust approval

Munich, 21 January 2009 – Munich-based industrial holding AURELIUS and a
consortium of investors have acquired the insolvent Hürth-based LD Didactic
Group, a leading supplier in the natural sciences/technology teaching
material market. Effective 31 December 2008, AURELIUS is taking over 20
percent of the group’s shares. The group itself encompasses the operating
business activities of LD Didactic Group which consists of HL Hürther
Lehrmittel GmbH and HL Hürther Mobiliar GmbH and their subsidiaries.

In transferring business operations, the investor consortium is ensuring
the immediate continuation of the company’s business at its bases in Hürth,
Urbach and Nörten-Hardenberg. Dr. Jörg Nerlich, bankruptcy trustee for LD
Didactic Group, is delighted for the company’s employees in particular: 'LD
Didactic is a leading full-range supplier in an interesting niche market.
The takeover gives the approximately 180 employees connected to the company
the opportunity to look forward to a promising future again.'

LD Didactic Group’s main areas of expertise are primarily in developing,
producing and selling laboratory furniture and systems as well as
specialist literature for the natural sciences/technology field. Gert
Purkert, AURELIUS board member, sees a bright future for this type of
specialist supplier in the current economic climate: 'The company has
long-standing customer relations in the public and private education
sector. We believe that the company stands to benefit disproportionately
from the economic stimulus package recently passed.'

In the 2008 financial year, LD Didactic Group generated revenue of around
EUR 40 million and posted negative earnings. AURELIUS is planning to take
over all shares in the company subject to approval by the responsible
anti-trust authorities.

For further information on AURELIUS please contact:
Ingo Middelmenne
Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Phone +49 (89) 544799 - 56
Fax +49 (89) 544799 - 55
ingo.middelmenne@aureliusinvest.de

About AURELIUS AG

AURELIUS AG based in Munich, Germany, is a Frankfurt stock exchange listed
industrial holding company. AURELIUS acquires and actively develops
medium-sized companies and business units that no longer belong to the core
business of their previous owners. These include corporate spin-offs and
divestitures, as well as companies with operational improvement potential.
Through its operational in-house team, AURELIUS enhances the value of its
portfolio companies to the benefit of all stakeholders taking into account
corporate and social responsibility. The shares of AURELIUS AG are traded
on the open market of the Frankfurt stock exchange (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8).
21.01.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

---