Corporate | 19 February 2010 11:45
Mutares AG / Mergers & Acquisitions/Acquisition 19.02.2010 11:45 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- mutares acquires the business unit Decorative Design including all its sites and employees. Dräxlmaier Group refocuses on its core business. Vilsbiburg/Bruchsal, 02/19/2010 - mutares AG, Munich, acquires Dräxlmaier Group's Decorative Design activities (DDD) with effect as of March 1st, 2010. Decorative Design develops, manufactures and distributes trim parts for the interior of passenger cars. The business unit occupies more than 1'000 employees at its German sites in Vilsbiburg and Bruchsal as well as in Codlea/Romania. In 2009, sales were in the upper two-digit millions range. As a consequence of this divestiture Dräxlmaier Group will further strengthen its focus on its core businesses. 'After constructive negotiations we are happy that we found mutares AG as a buyer who is interested in the further development and value creation of this business unit including all its sites and employees', says Hans Dick, CFO of Dräxlmaier Group. Among DDD's customers are the leading automotive OEMs (original equipment manufacturer) of the industry's premium segment. As a specialist for high-end and authentic surface designs made of wood, carbon or aluminum DDD is an important technology partner for the design and production of luxury passenger cars. Regarding DDD's future development, Dr. Axel Geuer, founder and member of the executive board of mutares, says: 'The high standards of DDD's production processes are an excellent basis to provide OEMs with innovative solutions for all applications of trim parts in automobile interiors. Our intention is to continue the operation with the existing product portfolio at all sites. Hence, we are glad about the successful signing of the contract.' Dräxlmaier Group considers itself to be well prepared for the current economic situation with its core businesses Electrical/Electronic and Interior. Via the divestiture of its DDD business to mutares AG, Munich, Dräxlmaier Group strengthens its focus on its core competences. The law firm Gleiss Lutz, Munich, and the investment bank Metzler Corporate Finance, Frankfurt am Main, supported Dräxlmaier Group in this transaction as exclusive advisors. Both firms advised on the strategic realignment of the business unit. About mutares: mutares AG, Munich, acquires midsized companies in whole and in part, which are sold as a result of a repositioning process at their owners and which exhibit a clear operational improvement potential. Getting engaged with their own teams, mutares actively supports their portfolio companies to generate a significant value increase. The focus of the operational work is to ensure sustainable, long-term growth. The stocks of mutares AG are listed at the Open Market segment of the Frankfurt stock exchange (symbol: MUX, ISIN: DE000A0SMSH2). About Dräxmaier Group: The name Dräxlmaier stands for automobile innovation. Participating in the development of vehicles from the very first idea up to just-in-sequence delivery, equipping them with modern electrical and electronic components, elegant interiors or functionally integrated systems/modules, all while continually inspiring the automotive world with innovation - this overall ability is what differentiates and distinguishes us as a systems partner. As a future-oriented partner to the automobile industry, we assume responsibility for the environment and concentrate on the development of sustainable products. We focus on renewable raw materials, energy-efficient light construction, and deliver compelling solutions for alternative drive systems. www.draexlmaier.com MOVING AHEAD THE AUTOMOTIVE FUTURE For further information, we gladly receive your request at: mutares AG Susanne Staudt Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Tel: +49 89 9292776-0 Fax: +49 89 9292776-22 www.mutares.de info@mutares.de Dräxlmaier Group Florian Anzeneder Corporate Marketing Tel.: +49- 8741- 47 2452 19.02.2010 Ad hoc announcement, Financial News and Media Release distributed by DGAP. Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de ---------------------------------------------------------------------------