DGAP-News: Aragon AG: AXA acquires 25.01% of the shares in Aragon AG

ARAGON AG / Miscellaneous

10.09.2008 

Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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++ AXA acquires 25.01% of the shares in Aragon AG
++ Strengths of the two companies to be combined
++ Cooperation will focus particularly on pensions and retirement planning

ARAGON AG, Wiesbaden, and the Cologne-based AXA Group have agreed on a
strategic alliance and intend to closely combine the strengths of the two
companies in future. As part of the agreement, AXA has acquired 25.01% of
the shares in stock exchange-listed ARAGON AG from Angermayer, Brumm &
Lange Unternehmensgruppe following the completion of a bidding process that
was conducted in close consultation with the ARAGON management. Angermayer,
Brumm & Lange Unternehmensgruppe has been advised by the lead investment
bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW) and the co-lead investment bank Silvia
Quandt & Cie. AG.

With a stake of almost 50%, Angermayer, Brumm & Lange Unternehmensgruppe
remains the majority shareholder of Aragon AG. Credit Suisse holds 8% of
the shares in the company, with approximately 18% in free float.

Dr. Sebastian Grabmaier, CEO of ARAGON AG, explained: 'We consider the
financial sales market to be the key growth market in the financial sector.
As a result of various regulatory amendments, this segment is currently
subject to major structural changes. We believe that modern sales
organisations with forward-looking strategies, such as Aragon AG, will be
the winners in these developments. With two strong and high-profile
shareholders backing the company, we intend to be the driving force in the
imminent process of consolidation. Via Angermayer, Brumm & Lange
Unternehmensgruppe as the majority shareholder, we are the only listed
financial sales company whose independence remains intact. Our journey to
becoming a leading European financial services provider has only just
begun.'

Dr. Frank Keuper, CEO of AXA Konzern AG, is also confident about the future
prospects of this latest partnership: 'Independent financial advisers are
becoming an increasingly important cornerstone of German and international
private client business, especially in view of progressive consolidation in
the banking industry. As part of the multi-channel strategy that we have
consistently pursued for many years, we have gained a partner in ARAGON
with proven expertise in this segment. At the same time, the investment in
ARAGON reflects our position as reliable partner for independent financial
sales companies and financial advisers, as well as our confidence in
maintaining multiple access channels to clients.'

The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price of the share
block.

Today, Wednesday 10 September, a conference call will be conducted in
German at 11 a.m. (CET). Journalists interested in participating should
please contact Rainer Brändle, edicto GmbH, tel. +49 69 90 550 550,
rbraendle@edicto.de in order to obtain the necessary dial-in details.

++ About Aragon AG

Aragon is a broadly diversified financial services company, with the
divisions Retail Sales, Institutional Sales and Banking & Banking Services.
Aragon is active on the marketplace with multiple independent subsidiaries.
The company’s aim is to integrate various distribution models under one
roof, without disturbing the individual identity of each sales company. The
result is a wide diversification across various asset classes and
distribution types, which generates a high stability in corporate earnings.
Further information about the company and its subsidiaries can be viewed on
the website: www.aragon-ag.de.

++ About AXA Germany

With premium income totalling EUR 9.8bn, in excess of eight million
customers and around 12,000 employees, the AXA Group is one of the biggest
insurance and financial services conglomerates in Germany. The Group
defines its business activities as provisioning, asset management and
insurance. Alongside the AXA life, healthcare and property insurance
companies, AXA Group members comprise art insurers AXA Art, the AXA Bank,
the Pro bAV pension fund, Deutsche Ärzteversicherung (German Doctors’
Insurance) as a specialist provider of insurance for healthcare
professionals and, since July 2007, DBV-Winterthur Holding AG as well as
its associated insurance companies. AXA Germany is a member of the AXA
Group, a leading global insurance company and asset manager whose
activities focus on Europe, North America and Asia/Pacific. In financial
year 2007, the AXA Group recorded sales in accordance with IFRS totalling
EUR 94bn and operating income (underlying earnings) of EUR 5.0bn. AXA
shares are listed on the Paris stock exchange with the symbol 'AXA'. The
Group’s shares are also listed on the New York stock exchange as American
Depositary Shares (ADS) with the ticker symbol 'AXA'.

++ About Angermayer, Brumm & Lange Unternehmensgruppe

Angermayer, Brumm & Lange Unternehmensgruppe (ABL) is an entrepreneurial
Family Office managed by five partners, Christian Angermayer, Peter Brumm,
Andreas Lange, Ralph Konrad and Dr. Sebastian Grabmaier. The goal of all
ABL investments is to assist successful entrepreneurs and companies,
particularly in the financial industry, over the course of their long-term
growth and to develop them into leaders in their respective segment. The
partners of Angermayer, Brumm & Lange Unternehmensgruppe take an active
part in the management of these investments by participating in their
various boards. Further information about the company is available at
www.abl-group.de.

Contact:

Aragon Aktiengesellschaft
Achim Pfeffer
Head of Investor Relations
Tel.: +49(0)611 890 575-574
Fax:  +49(0)611 890 575-99
E-Mail: achim.pfeffer@aragon-ag.de


DGAP 10.09.2008 
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