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M&A Activity • Jul 24, 2007

News Details

Ad-hoc | 24 July 2007 11:39

ARQUES acquires IT distributor Actebis from the Otto Group

ARQUES Industries AG / Acquisition

Release of an Ad hoc announcement according to § 15 WpHG, transmitted by
DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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ARQUES acquires IT distributor Actebis from the Otto Group

• Actebis operates profitably on annual revenues of approximately EUR 2.5
  billion
• Purchase price is EUR 110 million

Starnberg, July 24, 2007. The Starnberg-based equity investment firm ARQUES
Industries AG (ISIN DE0005156004) has purchased all the shares in the
national subsidiaries of the IT wholesaler Actebis in Germany, France,
Austria and the Netherlands. The seller is the Otto Group, which decided
for strategic reasons to withdraw from the wholesale business segment and
thus divest itself of the Actebis Group. Based in Soest, the Actebis Group
is the No. 3 IT wholesaler in Central Europe. It distributes information
technology, mobility and consumer electronics products. The purchased
companies together generated revenues of approximately EUR 2.5 billion in
2006. Half the purchase price of EUR 110 million ('equity value') will be
paid from the company’s own cash holdings and half will be borrowed.
Following the quick repayment of the interim financing facility taken out
for the purchased logistical centers, which is included in the purchase
price, ARQUES’ equity commitment will come to about EUR 20 million and the
remaining debt will amount to EUR 25 million. This transaction is pending,
subject to the approval of the competent European cartel authorities.

Actebis is the cost leader in IT wholesaling. Selling more than 50,000
products from more than 200 well-known manufacturers to approximately
35,000 customers, the company disposes of a broadly diversified customer
base and supplier base. The purchase price also covers two logistical
centers in Germany and a property in Vienna, with a combined area of nearly
42,000 m2.

Actebis was even more successful in 2007 than it was in 2006 and ARQUES
intends to continue pursuing the company’s established growth strategy.
Once the purchased branch offices have been separated from the Otto Group,
ARQUES will install the necessary operational and administrative structures
to prepare the Actebis Group to raise funds in the capital markets.

Actebis’ revenue and profit contributions for the 2007 financial year will
depend on the date of initial consolidation within the ARQUES Group, which
is expected to occur after the closing in September/October 2007. Until
that time, the existing guidance that has been put out by ARQUES Industries
AG remains in effect.

Following the acquisition of the Actebis Group, ARQUES’ annualized
consolidated revenues will rise to more than EUR 4 billion.

CONTACT:

ARQUES Industries AG
Investor Relations
Anke Lüdemann, CEFA/CIIA
Email: luedemann@arques.de

Tel.: +49 (0) 8151/ 651 0
DGAP 24.07.2007

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Language: English
Issuer: ARQUES Industries AG
Münchner Str. 15a
82319 Starnberg Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)8151 651-0
Fax: +49 (0)8151 651- 500
E-mail: info@arques.de
Internet: www.arques.de
ISIN: DE0005156004
WKN: 515600
Indices: SDAX
Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart

End of News DGAP News-Service

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