D+S europe AG: Apax has secured 85.01 percent of voting rights

The voluntary public takeover offer for D+S europe AG(ISIN: DE0005336804) by Pyramus S.à r.l. has raised wide interest amongst the shareholders. Consequently the investment company, which belongs to Apax Partners, has secured 83.49 percent of the nominal capital of D+S europe AG after expiration of the takeover offer on July 3, 2008. Additionally, 1.52 percent of the nominal capital of D+S europe AG were purchased outside the offer on the stock exchange from July 2 to July 7, 2008 and will be transferred to Pyramus within the next few days. The offer did not depend on any minimum acceptance rate, conclusion of a control and profit transfer agreement has not been earmarked. The EU commission in charge approved the takeover offer from a merger control aspect on June 25, 2008.

In accordance with the terms of the Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act, after publication of the result by Pyramus the acceptance period will be extended by another two weeks ("Zaunkönig-Regelung") giving undecided shareholders the opportunity to accept the offer at the conditions published. This period will end on July 22, 2008. The takeover offer of Pyramus ranges to EUR 13.00 per share in cash. This price represents a premium of about 44 percent of the volume weighted average price of the past three months prior to publication of the decision on the submittal of the takeover offer.

Management of D+S europe AG is pleased to have found a long-term oriented investor and strong partner, who will support the initiated growth course of the Company. Moreover Pyramus has confirmed the intention made in its offer document, in the medium term to maintain D+S europe AG as an independent listed enterprise headquartered in Hamburg.