DGAP-Adhoc: vwd signs contract for acquisition of majority

vwd Vereinigte Wirtschaftsdienste AG / Acquisition

11.02.2009 

Release of a Adhoc News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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vwd has entered into a contract for the acquisition of a majority interest
in the companies making up the European Derivatives Group together with
options to buy the remaining shares. In doing so, it has firmly established
itself in the market for financial product ratings.

- On completion of the contract, vwd will acquire majority interests in  
  three companies with a unique position in the certificate rating market.
- European Derivatives Group already producing strong earnings
- vwd anticipates positive impact on future business development thanks to
increased demand for quality ratings of structured investment products
- Plans to expand coverage of other securities categories
- External financing of variable purchase price

Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 11 February 2009. vwd Vereinigte
Wirtschaftsdienste AG (listed on Regulated Market and admitted to General
Standard under ISIN DE0005204705), a leading provider of information,
communication and technology solutions for the securities industry in the
German-speaking region, has entered into a contract to acquire 51 percent
of the European Derivatives Group (EDG), a group of companies whose ratings
and training/professional development programmes have boosted transparency
and sustainability in the certificate market. The acquisition breaks down
as follows: 51 percent in EDG AG (Munich, Germany), 51 percent in European
Derivatives Group AG (St. Gall, Switzerland) and 51 percent in Derivatives
Academy AG (Frankfurt am Main, Germany). By acquiring majority interests in
the companies making up EDG, which are already highly successful in
financial terms, vwd is able to expand its wide-ranging portfolio of
financial information services in the certificate rating market and further
strengthen its position in the retail banking and wealth management
segments. The acquisition will be completed within the first half of 2009.

The variable price agreed for the 51 percent shareholding in EDG is made up
of two purchase price components. The first of these is based on EDGs
actual net profit for the financial year 2008 and is expected to be around
EUR 5.3 million. The second is based on EDGs actual net profit for the
financial year 2011. The cost of the transaction will be met entirely
through external financing.

In addition, the sellers and vwd have granted each other call and put
options on the remaining 49 percent of the shares in EDG. These options may
be exercised in 2012. The price payable for these shares is also variable
and will depend on the future earnings of the EDG companies.
vwd anticipates that EDG will make a significant contribution to the
further positive development of vwd group in the years ahead.

vwd Vereinigte Wirtschaftsdienste AG

The Exchange Board


Further information:
vwd Vereinigte Wirtschaftsdienste AG
Tilsiter Strasse 1 
60487 Frankfurt am Main 
Germany
Frankfurt Regulated Market, General Standard
ISIN: DE 000 520470 5 

Investor Relations: 
Carsten Scharf
phone +49 (0)69-50701-270
fax +49 (0)69-50701-114
email investorrelations@vwd.com
http://www.vwd.com


DGAP 11.02.2009 
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Language:     English
Issuer:       vwd Vereinigte Wirtschaftsdienste AG
              Tilsiter Straße 1
              60487 Frankfurt am Main    Deutschland
Phone:        +49 (0)69 50701-316
Fax:          +49 (0)69 50701-114
E-mail:       cscharf@vwd.com
Internet:     http://www.vwd.com
ISIN:         DE0005204705
WKN:          520470
Listed:       Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (General Standard);
              Freiverkehr in Berlin, Stuttgart, München, Hamburg,
              Düsseldorf
End of News                                     DGAP News-Service
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DGAP-Adhoc: vwd signs contract for acquisition of majority interest in companies making up the European Derivatives Group with options to buy remaining shares
