Corporate | 10 August 2005 08:00

ARQUES Industries AG acquires majority share in Circel AG

Corporate-news transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. —————————————————————————— ARQUES Industries AG acquires majority share in Circel Grundstücks- und Vermögensverwaltung AG ARQUES announces at least one initial public offer within its subsidiary portfolio for 2005 Starnberg, August 10, 2005 – The Starnberg-based equity investment company, ARQUES Industries AG (ISIN DE0005156004), has taken over more than 95% of Circel Grundstücks-und Vermögensverwaltung AG (ISIN DE0006781008) traded in the over the counter market of Munich Stock Exchange. The remaining stocks remain in free float. Circel Grundstücks- und Vermögensverwaltung AG is one of the oldest stock corporations in Germany. It was founded under the name Niedermayr Papierwarenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft on 25 April 1922 in Traunstein. In due course the company headquarters were moved to Rohrdorf. The capital stock is divided into 2,000,000 share certificates, of which ARQUES has acquired 1.900.001. The acquired shares belonged to the Rohrdorfer Zement AG. The business of Circel had, to a large extent, ceased. The present executive board and the entire supervisory board have already announced their resignation. The ARQUES executive board members, Dr. Dr. Peter Löw and Markus Zöllner, were appointed to the new executive board. The intention is to move the company headquarters from Rohrdorf to Starnberg. The company was acquired according to the ARQUES philosophy. The company is free of any liabilities and provisions, however possesses a high liquidity. Today the market capitalisation amounts to more than EUR30 million. By taking over more than 95% of the shares, ARQUES has retained a squeeze-out option. ARQUES plans to use the company as platform for the initial public offer of one of its subsidiaries in this year. The preparations have already begun. The board of directors does not want to give any information regarding which specific commercial activities should be introduced. A change to the regulated market is planned for the future. Contact: ARQUES Industries AG Investor Relations Anke Lüdemann Tel.: +49 (0) 8151/651 0 Mail: luedemann@arques.de End of announcement (c)DGAP 10.08.2005 —————————————————————————— WKN: 515600 ; ISIN: DE0005156004; Index: Listed: Geregelter Markt (Prime Standard) in Frankfurt; Freiverkehr in Berlin- Bremen, München und Stuttgart 100800 Aug 05