ARQUES will take over operational units in France, Spain and Brazil from the MöllerGroup

Starnberg, Oct 30, 2007

ARQUES Industries AG and the MöllerGroup GmbH & Co. KG, Bielefeld, have agreed on the purchase of operational companies. Hereby ARQUES takes over individual subsidiary companies of MöllerTech International GmbH in France as well as in Spain and Brazil. MöllerTech International is a subsidiary of the MöllerGroup. The units to be taken over specialise in the development and production of systems, modules as well as individual components from plastic for automobile interiors. The signing of the contract is planned for the near future. The transaction is still subject to the usual reservations (e.g. the approval of the cartel authorities). In 2006 these companies generated revenues of approx. EUR 230 million with approx. 1,700 employees.

The units affected by the agreed takeover develop and produce innovative products within the automobile plastics industry. These include, among other things, storage compartments, seat components, luggage compartment encasements as well as wheel housing covers. These MöllerGroup companies have been supplying the international automobile industry, e.g. Renault, Peugeot and Citroen, since the beginning of the 1980s and are internationally recognised as reliable development suppliers. Within the context of the transaction ARQUES acquires seven production plants in France, Spain and Brazil as well as technology and development centres in France and Spain. The companies have comprehensive research and development programmes and have approximately 30 international patents.

Managing partner of the MöllerGroup, Felix von Möller: \"In ARQUES we have found a competent partner who offers the companies taken over in France, Spain and Brazil very good prospects, thus guaranteeing the continuous first tier support of the French automobile manufacturer.\"

ARQUES executive board member responsible for acquisitions, Dr. Michael Schumann: \"The admission of ARQUES Industries AG into the MDAX and the successfully executed large transactions have led to growing dynamics within the acquisitions sector. ARQUES is being approached more often regarding company spin-offs and is considered a turnaround specialist.\"