acquisition AHC Group in Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy

Acquisition of Europe's biggest surface treatment network (AHC Group)

Aalberts Industries N.V., which is listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, has reached agreement with the shareholders of the German AHC Group on the acquisition of all AHC shares.

This move will strengthen the Industrial Services activities of Aalberts Industries.

AHC Group, which has its headquarters in Kerpen, Germany, has a total of 11 bases in Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy specialising in surface treatment activities. With a turnover of approximately NLG 120 million in 2000 and a total workforce of 550, AHC is the leading European company in the field of industrial coatings.

The existing AHC network, which is still concentrated mainly in Germany, serves more than 7,000 clients annually and treats more than 250 million products. The Group’s unique technology is protected by a large number of patents; licences are granted in the countries where AHC does not operate itself and has no plans to do so (USA, Japan). The Group also has its own formulas for the chemicals used in the surface treatment processes. These are largely made up in-house. Using technologies such as the 'High Speed Flow Plating’ processes (SELGA-COAT^®) developed by AHC in France, the Group also supports major industrial clients with in-house surface treatment activities. With the sales of these processes - which in addition to the sales of know how (licence) and installation also comprises long-term supplies of chemicals - AHC will be able to grow strongly in the coming years. This technology enables the surface treatment to be integrated into the overall production process.

The acquisition fits in with the strategy of Aalberts Industries of building up a European network of materials treatment service centres for its Industrial Services activities. Following the acquisition of AHC, the network will comprise 36 surface and heat treatment centres in Europe and the USA.

The incumbent AHC management will be responsible for the further expansion of the network of surface treatment centres. Cooperation between the surface treatment and heat treatment activities in specific niche markets will increase the range of options for clients.

The acquisition will be financed from Aalberts Industries’ own resources, and will contribute to the growth in earnings per share in 2001. The figures of AHC Group will be consolidated with effect from 1 January 2001.