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M&A Activity • Feb 11, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 11 February 2009 11:00

ARQUES takes over leading British driving school, BSM

ARQUES Industries 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.

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ARQUES takes over leading British driving school, BSM
• Typical ARQUES transaction with high potential for added value

Starnberg, February 11, 2009 – German ARQUES Industries AG (ISIN
DE0005156004), Starnberg, acquired the traditional British driving school,
British School of Motoring (BSM), Bristol. The seller is the UK Motoring
Services business RAC plc, a subsidiary of one of the largest international
insurance companies, AVIVA plc, who will concentrate on its core business
in the future. BSM was taken over in accordance with the ARQUES business
model and free of financial liabilities.

BSM is the largest driving school in Great Britain with approximately 2,700
driving teachers (franchise model) as well as approximately 100 service
centres. Founded in 1910, the company is the market leader with a share of
approximately 10%. In 2008, BSM generated revenues of approximately GBP 34
million. In addition to the classical private customer business, BSM trains
driving instructors, carries out driver training for companies as well as
the public and governmental sectors. BSM is one of most well-known brands
in the UK.

During the acquisition process our know-how and experience as business
partner of companies regarding spin-offs of subsidiaries was of utmost
importance.

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 SDAX.

ARQUES Industries AG
Corporate Communication
Christian Schneider
Email: schneider@arques.de

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

ARQUES UK Limited
Christian Daumann
Email: Daumann@arques.co.uk
Tel.: +44 (0) 207 936 9989

11.02.2009 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: schneider@arques.de
Internet: www.arques.de
ISIN: DE0005156004
WKN: 515600
Indices: SDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, München, Stuttgart

End of News DGAP News-Service

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