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M&A Activity • Feb 20, 2009

News Details

Corporate | 20 February 2009 08:00

ARAGON AG: Aragon establishes strategic partnership with HSH Real Estate for closed-end funds

ARAGON AG / Miscellaneous

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• Aragon establishes strategic partnership with HSH Real Estate for
  closed-end fund sales

• HSH Real Estate AG acquires 25.1% stake in Aragon subsidiary BIT -
  Beteiligungs- & Investitions-Treuhand AG (BIT)

• Stronger capital base ensures growth and active involvement in market
  consolidation

Wiesbaden, 20 February 2009 - ARAGON AG, Wiesbaden, and HSH Real Estate AG,
Hamburg, have agreed on a strategic partnership and intend to establish a
closer link between the strengths of their companies in future. Under the
agreement, HSH Real Estate AG has acquired 25.1% of the shares in ARAGON
subsidiary BIT Beteiligungs- & Investitions-Treuhand AG, Neuwied, from
Aragon AG. The transfer is subject to approval from the competent
competition authorities. The parties have agreed not to disclose the
purchase price.

As part of a further transaction, ARAGON AG has acquired 20% of the BIT
share capital from Jan Bäumler, the former Management Board member of BIT
who recently left the company. As a result, ARAGON AG's investment in BIT
will amount to 54.9% in future compared with previously 60%. Sascha Sommer,
CEO of BIT, continues to hold the remaining 20% of BIT shares.

Dr. Sebastian Grabmaier, CEO of ARAGON AG, explained: 'In HSH Real Estate,
we have gained a strategic partner who will support us ideally in the
planned expansion of our subsidiary, BIT. The market segment of trading
platforms for closed-end funds is currently experiencing an historical wave
of consolidation in the wake of the financial market crisis. On the basis
of BIT's profitable and scalable business model, we intend to act jointly
as the driving force in the imminent process of market consolidation. We
have secured the required capital resources as part of the transaction. By
remaining the majority shareholder, we are in a position to ensure BIT's
continuing product independence in the future.'

Dr. Marc Weinstock, CEO of HSH Real Estate AG, is also confident of the
future prospects of this partnership and stated: 'ARAGON has a network of
independent financial services providers for sales of closed-end funds and
proven expertise of technological sales platforms, in particular. We intend
to rely on this in future for our product design and to offer our customers
an enhanced service. At the same time, our investment in BIT highlights our
position as a reliable partner not only for third party banks but also for
independent financial sales companies.'

About Aragon AG

Aragon is a broadly diversified financial services company, with the
divisions Retail Sales, Banking & Banking Services and Institutional Sales.
Aragon is active on the marketplace with multiple independent subsidiaries.
The company's aim is to integrate various distribution models under one
roof, without disturbing the individual identity of each sales company. The
result is a wide diversification across various asset classes and
distribution types, which generates a high stability in corporate earnings.
Further information about the company and its subsidiaries can be viewed on
the website: www.aragon.ag.

About HSH Real Estate AG

HSH Real Estate AG was established as a holding company in spring 2004
under the umbrella of HSH Nordbank AG. The objective was to pool all real
estate activities of the banking group under centralised management,
excluding the original financing business. In terms of total assets, HSH
Real Estate is among the top 10 joint stock companies in the property
sector in Germany.

The activities of affiliates of the holding company cover a range of real
estate segments, including investments, project development, services and
fund business.

Contact:
Aragon Aktiengesellschaft

Ralf Funke
Investor Relations
Tel.: +49(0)611 890 575-0
Fax: +49(0)611 890 575-99
E-Mail: funke@aragon-ag.de

20.02.2009 Financial News transmitted by DGAP