Gigaset AG

M&A Activity • Mar 25, 2008

News Details

Corporate | 25 March 2008 07:59

ARQUES sells chemicals company, Oxiris, to strategic investor

ARQUES Industries AG / Disposal

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.

---

ARQUES sells chemicals company, Oxiris, to strategic investor

• Second successful exit in 2008
• Transaction volume of approximately EUR 10.5 million
• Net proceeds more than EUR 10 million after less than 9 months

Starnberg, March 25, 2008 - ARQUES Industries AG (ISIN DE0005156004) has
sold another of its subsidiaries, the chemicals company, Oxiris Chemicals
S.A., Spain, to the Raschig Group, Ludwigshafen. The transaction volume
amounts to EUR 10.5 million. The transaction is subject to the approval of
the relevant cartel authorities.

With effect May 1, 2007, ARQUES took over the antioxidant business from
Degussa for a symbolic price and continued operations under the name of
Oxiris. Within the context of the transaction the chemicals company,
Raschig, now acquires the ultramodern production location at Sant Celoni
near Barcelona. In November 2007 Raschig already took over the phenol
antioxidants business at the Ludwigshafen location from Oxiris.

Oxiris is a leading manufacturer of antioxidants which are used to protect
products against negative influences such as oxidation, embrittlement,
gumming, or changes in colour or smell. Raschig is a company with a long
tradition situated in Ludwigshafen and operating in the chemicals,
synthetics, Raschig Rings and roads segments. Raschig belongs to the USA
industrial holding, PMC Global Inc. The buyer offers the employees and
management of Oxiris Chemicals S.A. a sound environment with clear future
prospects.

After the successful sale of the building supplier, Missel, in February
2008, this transaction is already the second exit in 2008. At least four
further exits are to follow the Oxiris transaction in the financial year
2008.

'The Oxiris sale is further proof of the success of the ARQUES business
model. In a very short period ARQUES succeeded in organising the
antioxidant business into its own company structure, to develop this
structure operationally and turn it into a sellable entity', said Dr.
Michael Schumann, chairman of the ARQUES Industries AG executive board.

About ARQUES
ARQUES Industries AG, Starnberg, (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
revitalises 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 in the regulated market (Prime
Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol 'AQU' (ISIN:
DE0005156004) and are listed in the MDAX as of October 1, 2007.

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

Public Relations
Christian Schneider
Email: schneider@arques.de

Tel.: +49 (0) 8151/ 651 0
25.03.2008 Financial News transmitted by DGAP

---

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: MDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart

End of News DGAP News-Service

---