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Gilde acquires walter TeleMedien Group with management participation

05.04.2006

The Dutch investor Gilde Buy-Out Fund, Utrecht, Netherlands acquires all shares in walter TeleMedien Group from Beisheim Holding Schweiz AG, Ettlingen, effective retroactively to January 1, 2006. The two parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter 2006 subject to the approval by the relevant competition authorities. The CEO, Dr. Ralf Kogeler, will continue to hold a significant stake in the company. Gilde will offer him to further increase his stake and will offer other managers the possibility to participate in the company.

Ettlingen, May 4, 2006. Walter TeleMedien will continue to offer its services under the established brand name and while building on the existing 5,200 employees create new jobs. “With Gilde, walter TeleMedien Group has a financially strong partner for the future”, says Dr. Ralf Kogeler, CEO of walter TeleMedien Holding GmbH. “The participation of management guarantees a high level of continuity which enables us to continue our strong growth path, while maintaining high quality levels for all services . As a Business Process Outsourcing partner we will continue to energize the complete value chain of the consumer life cycle and will further strengthen our innovative ability in processes and systems effectively”, says Dr. Kogeler.

Ralph Wyss, Managing Director of Gilde´s office in Zurich, where the transaction was managed, welcomes walter TeleMedien Group in the Gilde organization and says: “With this strategic step, Gilde enters the promising segment of Business Process Outsourcing services and it enables us to support management’s objective to develop the business in a sustainable manner.”


About walter TeleMedien Group

The walter TeleMedien Group in Ettlingen comprises 36 Communication and Service Centers controlled by 12 branch-oriented subsidiaries. The walter TeleMedien Group has agencies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 15 locations. The Group’s headquarter is based in Ettlingen and the largest location is in Magdeburg (2). Other branch establishments are located in Berlin, Bremen, Frankfurt (Oder), Hamburg (2), Lübeck, Mannheim, Neu-Ulm, Schutterwald near Offenburg, Willstätt, Vienna in Austria and Baar in Switzerland.

Contact:

walter TeleMedien Group

Dr. Ralf Kogeler
Sabine Zoller M.A.
Pforzheimer Straße 128
D-76275 Ettlingen
Phone +49 7243 55 14 80
Fax +49 7243 55 14 82
sabine.zoller@waltertelemedien.de
www.waltertelemedien.de

About Gilde Buy-Out Fund – Private Equity in Continental Europe

The Gilde Buy-Out Fund is managed by Gilde Buy Out Partners, a leading private equity investor from the Netherlands, specialized in buy-out investments in Continental Europe. With offices in Utrecht, Paris and Zurich, Gilde manages a total volume exceeding EUR 1,5 billion and has invested in more than 200 companies since it was founded in 1982.

Contact:

Gilde Buy Out Partners AG, Zurich
Ralph Wyss
Managing Director
Phone + 41 43 268 20 30