euro adhoc: Bechtle AG
Mergers - Acquisitions - Takeovers
Bechtle
takes over Swiss-based ARP and issues one million new shares
plans
to exceed one million euro mark in 2004 (E)
Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.
Gaildorf, 09.12.2003. IT-system house Bechtle will acquire 100 per cent ownership of Swiss-based ARP Holding AG with registered office in Rotkreuz/Canton Zug at the beginning of 2004. The ARP DATACON Group, with expected sales of over 210 million Swiss francs (approx. 135 million euros) and pre-tax earnings in excess of 8 million Swiss francs (approx. 5 million euros) for the business year 2003, with around 220 employees and subsidiary companies in Austria and Germany, is one of the largest European eCommerce providers of computers, IT products and accessories to corporate customers. The acquisition allows the Bechtle Group to further expand its market position in Switzerland and Austria. As of 2004, Bechtle expects long-term synergy effects in product management, material management, purchasing and logistics. The continuity of ARP's business development will be secured with the retention of ARP's senior management and the Chairman of the Board. The ARP brand will also be continued as part of a multi-brand strategy being pursued by Bechtle. The acquisition is subject to the approval of the German competition authority, the Kartellamt.Bechtle will finance part of the purchase price, on which a tacit agreement has been reached, by the issue of one million new Bechtle shares to the sellers. As a result of the share issue, the free float (according to Deutsche Börse) of the Bechtle share will increase to over 48.5% (20.2 million shares issued to date, current free float 46.04% or around 9.3 million shares). Together with ARP, Bechtle expects to exceed the one billion euro mark in 2004. Contact: Rudi Schmidt, ir@bechtle.com, +49 (0)79 71/95 02 29, www.bechtle.com, www.arp.com.
end of announcement euro adhoc 09.12.2003
Further inquiry note:
Ute Thamm
IR-Manager
+49(0)7971 9502-24
ute.thamm@bechtle.com
Branche: Software
ISIN: DE0005158703
WKN: 515870
Index: CDAX, Prime All Share, Prime Standard, Technologie All Share
Börsen: Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / regulated dealing
Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover / free trade
Berliner Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Bayerische Börse / free trade
Hamburger Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Bremer Wertpapierbörse (BWB) / free trade
Börse Düsseldorf / free trade
Baden-Württembergische Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Original content of: Bechtle AG, transmitted by news aktuell