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M&A Activity • Feb 1, 2007

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Corporate | 1 February 2007 10:00

ARQUES Industries AG: ARQUES Iberia takes over antioxidant business from Degussa headquartered in Spain

ARQUES Industries AG / Acquisition

Corporate news transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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• Important step in internationalisation of ARQUES business model
• Further takeovers by foreign ARQUES subsidiaries expected

Starnberg, February 1, 2007 – ARQUES Iberia S.A., a subsidiary of the
Starnberg-based equity investment company, ARQUES Industries AG (ISIN
DE0005156004), takes over the antioxidant activities of Degussa GmbH, which
include the Spanish headquarters, Degussa Sant Celoni, S.A. in Barcelona,
and the antioxidant activities of the British Degussa Knottingley Ltd. with
headquarters in Knottingley. The transaction is subject to the approval of
the relevant cartel offices and the respective supervisory boards.

The units taken over manufacture antioxidants for segments such as
synthetics, lubricants and foodstuffs as well as beauty care & wellness and
paints, and hold a leading position within these segments on the world
market. The companies generated revenues to the value of approximately EUR
60 million. Antioxidants are used to protect products against negative
influences such as oxidation, agglutination, or changes in colour or smell.

The antioxidant activities were taken over in accordance with the ARQUES
business philosophy. The companies are free of liabilities and possess
production facilities as well as properties in Spain and Great Britain. The
takeover is the fourth ARQUES Industries transaction with the Degussa
group.

The acquisition was executed by the Spanish ARQUES subsidiary, ARQUES
Iberia S.A. ARQUES Iberia S.A., with its headquarters in Madrid, was
founded in the autumn of 2006 within the context of the
internationalisation of the ARQUES business model; ARQUES manager,
Alexander Wit, manages ARQUES Iberia S.A. and ARQUES subsidiary manager,
Jordi Bricio Garcia, will manage the antioxidant business.

The takeover is the second acquisition by a foreign subsidiary of ARQUES
Industries AG after the takeover of the Swiss Farbendruck Weber AG at the
end of August 2006, which was primarily executed by the ARQUES subsidiary,
ARQUES Swiss. In view of the well filled acquisition pipeline, further
transactions by ARQUES companies abroad are expected for the financial year
2007.

About ARQUES

ARQUES Industries AG, Starnberg, (www.arques.de), is 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 revitalises its subsidiaries' potential for creating value
for the benefit of all its stakeholders, taking on the relevant social
responsibility. ARQUES has made a duty of identifying underestimated
companies with reduced survivability but with high appreciation potential,
at the same time mastering complex company structures and transitional
situations. The shares of ARQUES Industries AG are traded in the regulated
market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol
'AQU' (ISIN: DE0005156004) and are listed in the SDAX since September 19,
2005.

ARQUES Industries AG

Anke Lüdemann, CEFA/CIIA
Manager IR & Corporate Communication
Email: luedemann@arques.de

Christian Schneider
Public Relations
Email: schneider@arques.de

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

ARQUES Iberia SA
Alexander Wit
Director General
Calle Príncipe de Vergara 17 - 5ºDcha
28001 Madrid
España
Email: wit@arques-iberia.es
Tel.: +34 (0) 91-7 81 65 63

DGAP 01.02.2007

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
WWW: www.arques.de
ISIN: DE0005156004
WKN: 515600
Indices: SDAX
Listed: Geregelter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin-Bremen, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart

End of News DGAP News-Service

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