Ad-hoc | 31 January 2002 08:14

Mühlbauer Holding english

Muehlbauer wins access to roller coating by asset deal Ad-hoc-announcement transmitted by DGAP. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ——————————————————————————– Muehlbauer wins access to roller coating by asset deal. Roding, January 31, 2002 – Muehlbauer Holding AG & Co. KGaA has taken over the actually insolvent Systronic GmbH, Flein, a specialist for roller coating and board drying facilities. This pure asset deal – the adoption of assets, orders and knowhow – transfers no debts or other liabilities, but allows extensive synergetic effects within the entire Muehlbauer-group. Particularly, the outstanding positioning in the attractive growth market smart label is forced. The Flein near Heilbronn based manufacturer of innovative facilities and customer-oriented full line solutions for the electronic industry contributes the many years’ experience of its 54 employees over a wide product portfolio, resulting in market shares partially up to 60 per cent. Systronic GmbH smoothly fits into the concept of Muehlbauer and completes the business field by the new segment coating & drying on Muehlbauer’s way to a full system supplier. Concerning the production of smart label systems in the future, the process chain of the Muehlbauer group can be extended by a cost reducing opportunity: Systronic GmbH disposes of know how concerning liquid endless coating as well as drying facilities for series production in the highly sensitive field of smart labels on basis of the polymere technology, what – in comparison to silicium – is moderately priced and will be put into action at large scales and a broader range of application. Strategically the acquisition of Systronic GmbH indicates Muehlbauer’s consistent expansion of the process chain in the smart label area. Due to the increasing claims for security an annual growth rate of more than 100 per cent up to 2005 is predicted by scientific studies for the smart labels market, itself assigned to the smart identification segment. Muehlbauer is well prepared for that future situation and, considering the upcoming sales potential, once again proofs its long-run view and straight strategy.For further information please contact Armin Polster, Investor Relations, Tel.: +49(0)9461-952-653, E- Mail: armin.polster@muehlbauer.de. end of ad-hoc-announcement (c)DGAP 31.01.2002 ——————————————————————————– WKN: 662720; ISIN: DE0006627201; Index: Listed: Neuer Markt in Frankfurt; Freiverkehr in Berlin, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, München und Stuttgart 310814 Jän 02