CeWe Color Holding AG / Acquisition
17.11.2008
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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CeWe Color acquires web-to-print software specialist diron
Improved access to the market for web-based professional digital prints
Leading print4media web2print solution and valuable know-how brought in
diron's own market presence to be maintained
Oldenburg, 17 November 2008. CeWe Color Holding AG (Prime Standard, ISIN:
DE0005403901) has taken over one of the leading suppliers of software and
consulting services around professional digital printing in the area of
web-to-print solutions with the acquisition of diron GmbH & Co KG in
Münster, Germany. The company, founded in 1991, develops software solutions
for the automation of publishing workflows. In 1998 it launched the first
web-based publishing system. Today the company's core competence lies in
coming up with web2print solutions and in marketing these solutions.
This involves developing and installing custom-made web applications on the
basis of the software solution print4media. This enables companies to
automate their marketing processing with online portals for their sales
channels. The web2print software covers a wide range of print and service
products, such as advertisements, company stationery, business cards,
brochures, leaflets, catalogues and complex marketing campaigns. Operating
more than 260 web2print shops at present, diron holds a leading position on
this market in Germany.
The CeWe Color Group, as Europe's largest photofinishing and digital
printing enterprise, is considerably extending its service portfolio with
this acquisition. After selling CEWE PHOTO BOOKS and other digital printing
services to consumers through retailers, the company now also intends to
market its web-based professional digital printing services to corporate
customers. Dr. Michael Fries, Director for Germany with the CeWe Color
Group: 'The combination of diron as one of the leading suppliers of
software programs and services on the web-to-print market and CeWe Color as
the company with the largest capacity for first-class, four-colour digital
prints will benefit both companies, but more than anything else, it will
also benefit our customers.' The strengths of both companies are to be used
effectively, one of the reasons why diron will continue to operate
independently in the group. diron has profound project experience,
particularly with major customers and exceptional sales know-how on the
printing and advertising market. CeWe Color has also reached an agreement
with the two Directors, Thomas Rödding and Stefan Nürenberg, that they will
continue to develop the company in the long term. This also underlines the
independent presence of diron, which is to be maintained and will pay off
for both companies in the medium and long term.
With the help of diron, CeWe expects to achieve turnover amounting to
approx. 3-4 million and, due to the expansion phase, anticipates that
earnings will still be negative. In the period up to 2012, turnover is to
reach more than 20 million and contribute towards group earning with an
EBIT margin of 10 %. 'diron is an ideal supplement to our presence on the
market for first-quality digital prints. With the orders expected to come
in from business customers addressed by diron, our digital printing line of
business in particular will report additional orders received, with the
number of orders rising steadily throughout the year. The acquisition will
thus be considerably promoting the company in the digital printing segment,
says Dr. Rolf Hollander, Chairman of the Board of Management of CeWe Color
Holding AG.
About CeWe Color: Photo service company CeWe Color, with 15
highly-technical production operations and a staff of around 2,800
employees in 24 European countries, is both market and technological
leader. The company supplied around 2.8 billion photos, more than 1.5
million CEWE PHOTO BOOKS and photo gift articles to more than 50,000 retail
partners in 2007. In 2007 turnover amounted to EUR 413.5 million. CeWe
Color is 'first mover' in the launch of new digital technologies, for
example ordering digital photos in the Internet or with the help of order
terminals (DigiFoto Makers) in retail stores. Sales of personalised CEWE
PHOTO BOOKS are developing extremely well. In 1961, CeWe Color was founded
by Senator h.c. Heinz Neumüller. The company went public under the
leadership of Hubert Rothärmel. CeWe Color Holding AG is listed on the
Prime Standard.
Should you have any queries, please contact:
CeWe Color AG & Co. OHG, Hella Hahm (-400) or Axel Weber (-552)
Tel.: 0441 / 404 - 234, Fax: 0441 / 404 - 421,
Email: IR@cewecolor.de, Internet:www.cewecolor.de or www.cewe-fotobuch.de
DGAP 17.11.2008
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Language: English
Issuer: CeWe Color Holding AG
Meerweg 30-32
26133 Oldenburg
Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)441 40 4-1
Fax: +49 (0)441 40 4-42 1
E-mail: IR@cewecolor.de
Internet: www.cewecolor.de
ISIN: DE0005403901
WKN: 540390
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Berlin, Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Freiverkehr in Hannover, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf,
Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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DGAP-News: CeWe Color acquires web-to-print software specialist diron
| Source: EQS Group AG