Press releases

Press releases

AURELIUS buys British Book Club Associates from Bertelsmann

Acquisition of Britain’s biggest mail-order bookseller

All shares acquired from DirectGroup Bertelsmann

Group revenue in the mid double-digit million euro range

Munich, 19 December 2008 – The Munich-based industrial holding AURELIUS is taking over the biggest British mail-order bookseller, Book Club Associates (BCA), with effect from 1 January 2009. Contracts governing the transaction have now been signed with BCA’s parent, Bertelsmann AG. [more]

Press releases

Aurelius buys Blaupunkt product areas from Bosch

Product areas produce modern ‘car infotainment’

Group revenue rises by EUR 200 million

Munich, 18 December 2008 – Munich-based industrial holding company AURELIUS acquires the trade and components business from the Car Multimedia Division of Robert Bosch GmbH operating in the market under the brand name ‘Blaupunkt’. Relevant contracts have been signed by the two companies yesterday. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS subsidiary Schabmüller purchases AC motor operations from Sauer Danfoss

Takeover as of 1 January 2009

Revenue growth of around EUR 25 million

New jobs created at Berching and Asch sites

Munich-based industrial holding AURELIUS is taking over AC motor operations from the American Sauer Danfoss Group via its subsidiary Schabmüller as of 1 January 2009. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS confirms profitable growth track in the first nine months of 2008

Consolidated revenue up to EUR 461.0 million

EBITDA at EUR 42.5 million

Operating Cash flow increases to EUR 17.4 million

Munich-based industrial holding AURELIUS has sustained its profitable growth trend in the first nine months of 2008. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS successful in third quarter

Preliminary figures confirm successful third quarter

Particularly operative performance well above previous year’s level

Positive one-time effect due to acquisition of Berentzen

Munich based industrial holding AURELIUS can look back on a very successful third quarter. As preliminary figures confirm today, sales and earnings development are above the expectations of the company. Sales of the first nine months compared to the previous year increased from 181.7 million euro to about 465 million euro. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS sells part of its share in French bank

Sale of 15 percent to French Laser-Cofinoga Group

Purchase price is about 12 million euros

Sale will result in significant extraordinary gains in the fourth quarter

The Munich industrial holding AURELIUS has successfully sold a share in its interest in the French bank Compagnie de Gestion et des Prêts (CDGP). The purchaser of the share amounting to 15 percent is LaSer Cofinoga, a subsidiary of the biggest French banking group, BNP Paribas. The purchase price for the holding is about 12 million euros. This results in a current market value for CDGP of 80 million euros in total. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS acquires stake in Arques Industries

Major institutional investors signalize support

Barrier of three per cent exceeded

Adjustment of relevant boards intended

Munich-based industrial holding AURELIUS and associated companies have acquired a stake in Prime Standard listed Arques Industries AG, which has exceeded the barrier of three per cent of the outstanding shares. AURELIUS intends to raise the stake in Arques to a significant level together with foreign institutional investors. Existing institutional shareholders of Arques have signalized their support for this transaction. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS half-year figures considerably better than expected

Group sales over six times as high at 298.9 million euros

Group earnings rise 58 percent to 7.7 million euros

Free cash flow clearly positive once again at 6.3 million euros

The industrial holding, AURELIUS, saw a significantly better end to the first six months of 2008 than previously expected. Both sales and earnings trends, as well as the Munich Group’s liquidity situation, testify to the strength of the company’s operations after the first six months of the financial year. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS successfully places capital increase

Placement of 306,750 new shares with institutional investors

Issue price of 16.30 euro per share

Cash inflow of five million euro

Munich-based industrial holding AURELIUS today successfully placed a capital increase with institutional investors. In the course of the transaction the share capital of the company increased by 306,750 euro to 9,322,250 euro. The issue price of the 306,750 no-par shares was set at 16.30 euro and thus approximately corresponded to the average closing price of the AURELIUS share of the previous five trading days. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS sells KWE to Austrian Kresta Group

Sale of KWE Stahl- und Industriebau GmbH & Co. KG to strategic investor

High potential for synergies for KWE as well as for purchaser Kresta

Proof of success of AURELIUS Group’s business model

AURELIUS AG has sold its portfolio company KWE Stahl- und Industriebau GmbH & Co. KG including its wholly-owned subsidiary KWE Ludwigshafen GmbH to Kresta Group, St. Andrä (Austria), an integrated steel and plant construction company specialised in steel-based tank and pipeline constructions for various industries. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS acquires home-shopping station RTL SHOP

Acquisition of all shares from Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland

Takeover strengthens the portfolio in the Retail & Consumer Products segment

Munich-based industrial holding AURELIUS has taken over all shares in RTL SHOP GmbH, Hannover. Ingbert Vöcker, CFO of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland, comments: “We are glad we found a buyer with experience in the trading segment in AURELIUS, who wants to continue to develop the business of RTL SHOP together with its employees.” [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS acquires premium beverage producer Berentzen

Acquisition of 75.1% of the ordinary shares of Berentzen-Gruppe AG

Traditional brands such as Puschkin, Doornkaat and Bommerlunder with new dynamics

Official takeover bid fort he acquisition of all shares

With the largest transaction in company history AURELIUS breaks the billion euro barrier in sales revenues

The Munich-based industrial holding AURELIUS today agreed with the families Berentzen, Wolff, Pabst und Richarz on the acquisition of 75.1% of the ordinary shares of the heritage company Berentzen. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS acquires Business Solutions division from Swiss telecom-conglomerate Sunrise

Munich-based industrial holding AURELIUS AG (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8) has acquired the Business Solutions division (SBC) from the Swiss telecom-conglomerate Sunrise, Zurich. The divestiture is a consequence of Sunrise’s strategy to focus on its carrier core-business and makes way for SBC to develop as an independent solution provider for corporate clients. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS releases figures for the 2007 fiscal year:
Very strong growth in sales, results and cash flow

Consolidated sales of EUR 316.7 m

EBITDA increases to EUR 72.3 m

Free cash flow amounts to EUR 23.9 m

German Industrial holding AURELIUS AG (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8) today released its audited consolidated annual financial statements and the annual report for the fiscal year 2007 [more]

Press releases

Primondo sells specialty mail order company Mode & Preis to AURELIUS
Already second sale of a Primondo subsidiary to AURELIUS

Munich-based publicly-listed industrial holding AURELIUS AG acquires Mode & Preis Versandhandels GmbH, Lörrach, and its subsidiaries in Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland from Primondo GmbH, in which the mail order activities of publicly-listed Arcandor AG are held. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS: Preliminary results

Consolidated sales increase to EUR 316 m

EBITDA of approx. EUR 71 m significantly above guidance

Further increase in sales and results expected for 2008

Munich-based industrial holding AURELIUS AG exceeded its own forecast in the financial year 2007 based on preliminary unaudited figures. The dynamic growth continued in the last quarter of 2007. The AURELIUS group achieved sales of EUR 316 m in 2007 (previous year: EUR 21.7 m). The EBITDA of the industrial holding increased to approx. EUR 71 m (previous year EUR 4.2 m) and is significantly above the guidance. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS is satisfied with the positive business development –
Management board confirms the prognosis for 2007 and gives a positive outlook for 2008

The Munich based listed industrial holding AURELIUS AG is very satisfied with the business development of the past fiscal year. It altogether acquired eight companies in 2007, four of them during the last four months. By now, sales on an annual basis exceed EUR 650m. Given these positive developments, the management board confirms its prognosis for the fiscal year 2007 of at least EUR 310m in sales, EUR 55m in EBITDA and EUR 37m in annual net income after minorities. [more]

Press releases

Joint press release of Balda AG, KS Plastic Solutions GmbH and AURELIUS AG regarding the sale of the Balda Solutions Group

Bad Oeynhausen/Munich, January 10, 2008. With a view to various press articles in recent days Balda AG, KS Plastic Solutions GmbH and AURELIUS AG state the following: Balda Solutions Deutschland GmbH and Balda Werkzeugbau GmbH, both domiciled in Bad Oeynhausen (North Rhine-Westphalia), as well as Balda Solutions Hungaria Kft. in Veszprem/Hungary, have been sold to KS Plastic Solutions GmbH with effect from December 31, 2007. The negotiations have been concluded and the transfer of the companies to the purchaser KS Plastic Solutions was completed on December 31, 2007. All the contingent contractual conditions have been fulfilled and there are no rights of withdrawal on the part of either the buyer or the seller. With the exception of the agreements reached in the framework of the purchase contract there are no other obligations on the part of Balda AG, nor have any such claims been asserted by the buyer. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS expands its executive board and provides a basis for further growth

At its meeting on 10 December 2007, the supervisory board of Munich based listed industrial holding AURELIUS AG (ISIN DE000A0JK2A8) appointed Donatus Albrecht and Ulrich Radlmayr as new executive board members with effect from 1 January 2008. Thus the executive board that currently includes Dr. Dirk Markus, CEO, and Gerd Purkert, who is responsible for the realignment of the investments, will then consist of four members. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS acquires SAG Kommunikationstechnik GmbH -
Eighth acquisition by AURELIUS in the current year

Munich-based industrial holding AURELIUS AG (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8) acquires SAG Kommunikationstechnik GmbH (SAG KT), Hanover, from SAG GmbH, Langen. SAG KT is specialised in planning, construction, installation and especially maintenance of mobile networks. SAG KT is the biggest independent provider of telecommunication network services in Germany. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS successfully completes the takeover of Westfalia from Daimler

The takeover of the caravan producer Westfalia Van Conversion GmbH, headquartered in Rheda-Wiedenbrück (East Westfalia, Germany), by the Munich based industrial holding company AURELIUS AG was successfully completed. The purchase contract with Daimler AG has already been signed in mid-October. However the contract could only be closed after the approval by the federal cartel authorities. Thus the first-time consolidation of Westfalia within the AURELIUS group will take place in the fourth quarter. [more]

Press releases

AURELIUS posts strong growth in third quarter - 2007 forecast raised

Munich based industrial holding AURELIUS AG has been continuing its dynamic growth path. In the first nine months of 2007, AURELIUS generated sales amounting to EUR 181.7m. This is an increase of 2,995% compared to 2006. The operating profit (EBITDA) of the investment company could be increased by 2,875% to EUR 47.0m. [more]

Munich, 29 October 2007

AURELIUS acquires shirt manufacturer EINHORN

The Munich based industrial holding AURELIUS acquires the Swabian traditional company Zeeb & Hornung GmbH & Co., owner of the renowned shirt brand "EINHORN“. The shirt manufacturer based in Kirchentellinsfurt near Reutlingen currently realizes a turnover of approximately EUR 25m with about 85 employees.  [more]

Munich, 16 October 2007

Daimler AG sells van producer Westfalia to industrial holding AURELIUS
- Already 6th acquisition for AURELIUS this year -

The Munich based industrial holding AURELIUS AG has acquired the caravan producer Westfalia Van Conversion GmbH from the Daimler group. The company, which is based in Rheda-Wiedenbrück (East Westphalia, Germany), realizes an annual turnover of approximately EUR 50m with approximately 230 employees. [more]

Munich, 19 September 2007

AURELIUS sells Grillo Peissenberg to British Nettle Group

The Munich based industrial holding AURELIUS AG (ISIN DE000A0JK2A8) has sold Grillo Peissenberg, a company specialized in metal working, to the British Nettle Group. [more]

Munich, 17 September 2007

AURELIUS acquires the men’s apparel provider Pohland from DOUGLAS

The Munich based industrial holding AURELIUS AG has acquired the men’s apparel provider Pohland-Herrenkleidung GmbH & Co. KG from DOUGLAS HOLDING AG, effective from 13 September 2007. [more]

Munich, 24 August 2007

AURELIUS successfully places capital increase with a volume of EUR 9.5 m –
basis for further growth

The Munich based industrial holding AURELIUS AG has successfully placed a capital increase out of the authorised capital today. Share capital of the company was increased by EUR 427,200 to EUR 9,015,500. The proceeds of the transaction amounted to EUR 9,458,208, which shall be used for the financing of further acquisitions by AURELIUS. [more]

Munich, 20 August 2007

Stock split of AURELIUS AG has been recorded in the commercial register – new shares will be traded from August 27, 2007 on

The stock split at the ratio of 1/14, which was approved at the shareholders meeting of AURELIUS AG on June 27, 2007, has been recorded in the commercial register. [more]

Munich, 03 August 2007

AURELIUS: strong sales and result growth also in the second quarter

First-time forecast for the business year 2007: sales EUR 275 m, EBITDA EUR 45 m [more]

Munich, 01 August 2007

AURELIUS AG successfully closes the purchase of Quelle France

French Central Bank approves the acquisition of CDGP, a bank specialized in consumer credits. [more]

Munich, 27. July 2007

AURELIUS acquires Wellman International Limited - its 4th acquisition in 2007 to date

The Munich based industrial holding company AURELIUS AG (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8) has acquired Wellman International Limited (Wellman International), Europe's largest recycler of post-consumer PET bottles and the leading European producer of polyester staple fibres. Wellman, Inc., of Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA, arranged for the sale as part of its strategy to focus on its U.S. chemical-based business. [more]

Munich, 9 July 2007

AURELIUS acquires Schleicher Electronic from Wieland Group

The Munich based industrial holding AURELIUS AG (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8) acquires all shares of Schleicher Electronic GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin, effective from 1st July. Seller is the Wieland Holding which is headquartered in Bamberg. [more]

Munich, 3 July 2007

AURELIUS acquires Investunity AG shares

The Munich based industrial holding AURELIUS AG (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8) acquires shares of equal to 17% of the Investunity AG which is quoted on the Frankfurt Open Market (ISIN: DE0006135908). [more]

Munich, 28 June 2007

AURELIUS experiences broad consent from the shareholders meeting for the implementation of the growth strategy

- All applications of the administration were approved by more than 99%
- Basis for dynamic growth is provided
[more]

Munich, 13 June 2007

AURELIUS announces result for the first quarter 2007: strong growth of sales and result

In the first quarter 2007, the group realised sales in the amount of EUR 23,7m and therefore already exceeds total sales in 2006. This corresponds to EUR 121,4m sales, calculated on an annual basis. EBITDA amounted to EUR 4,6m in the first quarter 2007, EBIT to 3,4m. Group profit for the first quarter was EUR 3,1m. That implies earnings per share of EUR 5,08. The EUR 5,3m gross cash flow also shows that AURELIUS not only generates positive, but also significantly cash effective results. [more]

Munich, 16 May 2007

AURELIUS closes successfully the business year 2006

The Munich based industrial holding company AURELIUS AG (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8) closes successfully the business year 2006. Group sales came to EUR 21,7m. All five companies of the investment portfolio were purchased and consolidated only in the second half year of 2006. Calculated on an annual basis, group sales reach the total of EUR 83,7m. [more]

Munich, 04 April 2007

Contract on purchasing Quelle France was signed

Essen/Fürth/Munich: Yesterday, Karstadt Quelle AG and AURELIUS signed a contract on the purchase of the French Quelle S.A.S. This was carried out after the hearing process with local work councils and trade-unions, which is statutory in France, was able to be successfully concluded and therewith the last formal demand for a signing of the contract had been met. Representatives of the AURELIUS Task Force are already in employment in the company and accompany the reorientation of the company. Since by means of Quelle S.A.S. there is also a selling of an investment in the CDGP bank, which is specialized in consumer credits, the execution of the purchase is subject to the suspensive condition of the acceptance of the French Central Bank. This approval process may be called upon several months.

Munich, 26 March 2007

AURELIUS acquires Sauer-Danfoss (Berching) GmbH from Sauer-Danfoss group

Munich based industrial holding AURELIUS (ISIN: DE00010JK2A8) acquires all shares in Sauer-Danfoss Berching GmbH as of March 30th. The seller is the worldwide active Sauer-Danfoss group headquartered in Chicago, USA. Secrecy was agreed with regards to the purchase price. [more]

Essen/Fürth, February 1, 2007

AURELIUS acquires Quelle France

The sale of Quelle France announced in the fall of 2006 is ready to be signed. The Munich-based industrial holding AURELIUS acquires all shares of Quelle’s French subsidiary, Quelle S.A.S, based in Saran, including the Spanish business retroactively with effect from January 1, 2007. The new owner intends to continue the mail order business in France and Spain under the “Quelle” brand name. [more]

Munich, December 20, 2006

AURELIUS AG acquires KWE Stahl- und Industriebau GmbH & Co. KG from Bauwens Real Estate Group

The industrial holding AURELIUS AG (ISIN DE000A0JK2A8) has acquired all the shares of KWE Stahl- und Industriebau GmbH & Co. KG in Wesseling/Cologne and its subsidiary KWE Stahl- und Industriebau GmbH in Ludwigshafen. [more]

Munich, November 22, 2006

AURELIUS Group publishes results for the first three quarters of 2006

- Already three acquisitions in the first operative quarter
- Plan clearly exceeded
- Large profit for the year expected
[more]

Munich, October 4, 2006.

AURELIUS AG acquires Deutsche Post Wohnen GmbH

The listed industrial holding AURELIUS AG (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8) has acquired an almost 100% share of Deutsche Post Wohnen GmbH through the integration of Aurelius Investkapital AG into the Aurelius Group. Aurelius Investkapital AG acquired the company from Deutsche Post AG at the beginning of the year. It has now been active as GHOTEL hotel & living since May 2006. The GHOTEL Group operates 18 hotels and apartment buildings in central locations in major German cities such as Hamburg, Hanover, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich, generating annual sales of approx. EUR 15 m. Aurelius acquired GHOTEL Group at a price below its intrinsic value. [more]

Munich, September 19, 2006

AURELIUS acquires Grillo Peißenberg GmbH

The Munich-based industrial holding AURELIUS AG (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8) has taken over a majority of the shares in Grillo Peißenberg GmbH. In the ongoing business year 2005/206, Grillo Peißenberg GmbH will generate sales of € 18 million with its round 200 employees. Its range of services encompasses the fields of milling, stainless steel machining and component assembly, for which state-of-the-art CNC machines (e.g. milling or laser cutting) are available. Grillo Peißenberg has a broad customer base in sectors such as information technology, automotive and production engineering. [more]

Munich, September 14, 2006

AURELIUS takes over a leading special logistics company in DFA Transport und Logistik GmbH

The industrial holding AURELIUS AG, listed since June (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8), has acquired a 100% stake in DFA Transport und Logistik GmbH, Ronneburg. DFA is a leading special logistics company with a focus on special transports with permits for radioactive materials and a wide range of other types of hazardous waste. This gives the company an exemplary status in the ongoing renovation of the uranium mines in the former East German states. One of its customers is the State. In addition, with commissions in Austria and Hungary the company has also succeeded in expanding internationally. The eminently profitable special logistics company DFA generated sales of € 20 million last year and employed around 200 people. [more]

Munich, July 17, 2006

AURELIUS taks over Richard Scherpe Group / a leading specialist printer in card and adhesive labels.

Munich-based industrial holding AURELIUS AG (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8) has acquired all the shares in Richard Scherpe Group through its 100% subsidiary AURELIUS Media Holding GmbH. Scherpe is a manufacturer of special print applications. Scherpe has been manufacturing forms, labels and special packaging for more than 70 years. A source of great pride in this company, with its plants in Krefeld, Düren and Norderstedt near Hamburg, is its special products such as the label for Reber's Mozart Ball pralines, made using the hot gold-film embossing process and the voting cards for the shareholders' meetings of leading DAX companies. [more]

Munich, July 2006

Article by Dr. Dirk Markus in the latest edition of "ARGUMENTE" - the internal newsletter of the BRSI

You can read Dr. Dirk Markus' article on "The Private Equity Investor in Smaller Companies: hungry locust or helping hand?" in the current edition of "ARGUMENTE"
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