CFC Industriebeteiligungen AG further increases its Berndes commitment and completes the restructuring process

• CFC Industriebeteiligungen acquires 30% of the shares in the Berndes Group from the founding family
• CFC Industriebeteiligungen acquires fixed assets utilised by Berndes from the previous minority shareholder

CFC Industriebeteiligungen AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Dortmund, today signed an agreement for the acquisition of additional 30% of the shares in the Berndes Group. Seller of the shares is the previous minority share-holder of the founding family. In addition, CFC has acquired all fixed assets previously owned by the founding family. To these primarily belong the real estate at the head office in Arnsberg as well as machinery and equipment. The price of the transaction will not be disclosed.

With the execution of the transaction, CFC has completed the organisational restructuring process of the Berndes Group. The directly and indirectly held participation of CFC in Berndes now increases to 65.7%. The remaining share is apportioned to the participation of Greenpark Capital and is also administered by CFC.

Already in October, CFC arranged the restructuring of a larger financial commitment in the company and, by this means, created the basis for prospective development. Even though the market for cook ware remains challenging, CFC expects positive momentum in 2011 and, in view of the adjusted strategic alignment of the past months, is optimistic for the future.