ATON increases stake in Dürr

08/17/2009

Bietigheim-Bissingen, August 17, 2009 – ATON GmbH, Fulda, is increasing its stake in Dürr AG, Stuttgart, from 17.4% to 25.5%. It is acquiring 1,400,000 shares in an off-exchange deal from Heinz Dürr GmbH, which is disposing of the shares within the framework of a long-term legacy arrangement. The transaction still has to be approved by the German Cartel Office. When the transaction is completed Heinz Dürr GmbH and the foundation Heinz und Heide Dürr Stiftung will together hold 34% of Dürr AG.

The Dürr Group is a supplier of plant and equipment that commands leading global market positions in its areas of activity. Business with the automotive industry accounts for about 85% of its sales. Dürr also supplies innovative manufacturing and environmental technologies for the aircraft, mechanical engineering, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The Dürr Group operates in the market through two divisions. The Paint and Assembly Systems division supplies production and painting technologies, mainly for automotive body & chassis manufacturing. The equipment and systems supplied by the Measuring and Process Systems division are used, among other things, for engine and transmission production and for final vehicle assembly. Dürr is present in 44 locations in 20 countries around the world. The Group achieved sales of € 1.6 billion with approximately 6,100 employees in 2008.