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Abonner Bechtle AG

Bechtle AG

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