Aumann : acquires USK Karl Utz Sondermaschinen GmbH

Aumann AG acquires USK Karl Utz Sondermaschinen GmbH

Beelen, 18 October 2017 - Aumann AG ("Aumann", ISIN: DE000A2DAM03), a globally leading supplier of innovative specialised machinery and automated production lines with focus on E-mobility, acquires 100% of the shares in USK Karl Utz Sondermaschinen GmbH ("USK") from the family owners with effect as of today. Together with USK's capacities for development, engineering and assembly as well as the technological expertise in promising technologies like fuel cell manufacturing, Aumann expects a significant support of its growth plans in the E-mobility field.

USK (www.usk-utz.de) is a renowned specialist for automation solutions that employs more than 300 people at its headquarters in Limbach-Oberfrohna (Germany) and achieved revenues of almost EUR70 million in 2016. The company has decades of experience as an equipment supplier for leading OEMs and Tier-1s. Additionally, the company offers sophisticated specialised machinery and production lines for the electronics, renewable energies and medical technology industries. In these areas, USK's technologies are used around the world.

USK was founded by Karl Utz in 1990 and goes back to VEB Mechanisierung Karl-Marx-Stadt which had a long tradition as a leading automation specialist in eastern Germany. In the last 27 years, the company has grown profitably and gained the trust of numerous automotive manufacturers as a partner for sophisticated automation solutions. In 2014, USK established a new factory at its headquarters in Limbach-Oberfrohna and today the company has more than 10,000 m² production space and more than 4,300 m² office space. The continuous investments at this site will be continued in the future and underline USK's rootedness in the region.

A special focus of USK is on production technologies for the manufacturing of fuel cells. These partly patented technologies are going to increase in importance in the rapidly growing E-mobility market. Thanks to experiences in the fields of assembly lines for sensors, memory chips and batteries, USK is also perfectly equipped for other key technologies in the E-mobility era.

Aumann (www.aumann-ag.com) is a globally leading supplier of innovative specialised machinery and automated production lines with focus on E-mobility. The company combines unique winding technology for the highly efficient manufacturing of electric motors with decades of automation experience, particularly for the automotive industry. Leading companies worldwide count on Aumann's solutions for the serial production of electric and hybrid drivetrains as well as solutions for automated production lines.

Together with USK, Aumann plans to continue its growth and to expand its leading market position as a supplier of production lines for the electric drivetrain. With the fuel cell technology, the Aumann Group is now able to offer an additional key technology for E-mobility in addition to the technologies for motor and battery module manufacturing. Especially USK's considerable engineering resources will allow the Aumann Group to increase its capacities for its ambitious growth plans quickly and efficiently, according to management's assessment. Aumann and USK will together employ almost 1,000 people in Beelen, Limbach-Oberfrohna, Espelkamp, Berlin, China and the US. For 2017, the Aumann Group expects consolidated revenues of more than EUR210 million, which corresponds to an annualised yearly revenue of more than EUR260 million.

Rolf Beckhoff, Co-CEO of Aumann AG, is highly pleased after the transaction: "USK is an automation specialist with profound process expertise for highly sophisticated applications. Not only the technological capabilities, but also the culture of the company fit perfectly to Aumann." Ludger Martinschledde, also Co-CEO of Aumann, agrees: "USK adds further key technologies to the E-mobility offering of the Aumann Group, for example in the area of fuel cell manufacturing. Together, we will expand our leading market position as a supplier of production lines with focus on E-mobility."

Markus Bartsch, managing director of USK, emphasises: "With Aumann, we have found the ideal partner to support our international expansion as well as the paradigm change of the automotive industry towards E-mobility. As a technology company, Aumann fits perfectly to the technology focused culture of USK." Holger Kühne, also managing director of USK, underlines: "For our customers, the combination of USK and the Aumann Group opens up new manufacturing technologies and an international setup. We are looking forward to further growth at our site in Limbach-Oberfrohna and around the world."

Thilo Utz, former family shareholder of USK, also underlines the bright future for the company: "When my father Karl Utz founded USK 27 years ago, it was his desire to grow the company by developing sophisticated production solutions in Limbach-Oberfrohna. This growth was achieved by the company thanks to its highly qualified employees. As a part of the Aumann Group, USK now becomes a true global player."

Aumann AG
Dieselstraße 6
48361 Beelen
Deutschland
www.aumann-ag.com

Vorstand
Rolf Beckhoff (CEO)
Ludger Martinschledde (CEO)
Sebastian Roll (CFO)

Aufsichtsrat
Gert-Maria Freimuth (Vorsitzender)
Christoph Weigler
Klaus Seidel

Registergericht
Amtsgericht Münster, Registernummer: HRB 16399

Bitte wenden Sie sich bei Rückfragen an:

Constantin Mang
+49 162 426 08 74
constantin.mang@aumann.com