Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG: Heidelberg and MBO regret German Federal Cartel Office's decision to block planned takeover

DGAP-News: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG / Key word(s): Takeover Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG: Heidelberg and MBO regret German Federal Cartel Office's decision to block planned takeover 07.05.2019 / 13:34 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Both companies to continue running their businesses separately and independently Heidelberg postpress strategy remains unchanged The German Federal Cartel Office today announced its decision to block the planned takeover of the MBO Group by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg). Due to this decision, the takeover will not go ahead. "We take note of the decision with regret and moving on, even though we see the future market position of the combined company's differently," commented Heidelberg CEO Rainer Hundsdörfer. The two companies remain convinced that integrating the offerings of MBO would have given customers added benefits in terms of smooth industrial processes in the digital future. Following the ruling, both companies will continue to run their businesses separately and independently as before. Heidelberg publicly announced its intention to take over the MBO Group and concluded an agreement with the owning family back in October 2018. This agreement was then submitted to the Federal Cartel Office for approval and had been under review since that time.   Heidelberg postpress strategy remains unchanged Even though the takeover of the MBO Group is not going ahead, Heidelberg will continue to pursue its strategy of further developing its postpress portfolio in the direction of industrial-scale postpress operations. This includes the extremely successful positioning of the Stahlfolder TH / KH series folding machines, especially the patented high-performance P-class. Heidelberg is also investing in a new way of improving transparency in postpress production control for all products. In parallel to this, the company is systematically aligning new business models with the growth segments of digital and packaging and tapping into new customer groups for its entire product range. This applies in particular to the segments of digital postpress and postpress for folding cartons and the associated inserts and outserts used in the pharmaceutical sector. It is also underlined by the company's collaboration with the Chinese postpress specialist Masterwork Group, which was expanded with a capital measure in March and is designed to open up further potential on the growing packaging market.   For additional details about the company and image material, please visit the Press Lounge of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG at www.heidelberg.com. Contact: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG Corporate Public Relations Thomas Fichtl Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Investor Relations Robin Karpp Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] 67120 E-Mail: [e-mail] Important note: This press release contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions and estimations by the Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft. Even though the Management Board is of the opinion that those assumptions and estimations are realistic, the actual future development and results may deviate substantially from these forward-looking statements due to various factors, such as changes in the macro-economic situation, in the exchange rates, in the interest rates, and in the print media industry. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft gives no warranty and does not assume liability for any damages in case the future development and the projected results do not correspond with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.   07.05.2019 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de

Language:	English
Company:	Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
	Kurfürsten-Anlage 52-60
	69115 Heidelberg
	Germany
Phone:	[phone]
Fax:	[phone]
E-mail:	[e-mail]
Internet:	www.heidelberg.com
ISIN:	DE0007314007
WKN:	731400
Indices:	SDAX
Listed:	Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange
EQS News ID:	808027

End of News	DGAP News Service

808027  07.05.2019