LEONI Kabel Holding GmbH & Co. KG, the management company of Nuremberg-based LEONI AG’s Wire & Cable Division, intends to take over KERPEN GmbH & Co. KG (KERPEN), which is based in Stolberg. On Tuesday, 16 August 2005, LEONI signed a binding letter of intent to acquire all the shares in KERPEN. Acquisition of the shares is scheduled for 1 October 2005 provided that the negotiations are successfully concluded. The parties agreed not to disclose the details of the transaction.

KERPEN develops, produces and distributes copper and glass fiber-based systems for data communications. In addition, KERPEN provides cable solutions for measuring, controlling and regulating for industry as well as for major international plant projects in the oil exploration, refinery and major chemical business sectors. The Stolberg-based company employs about 610 people and generated sales of around EUR 100 million in the 2004 financial year. LEONI regards acquisition of KERPEN GmbH & Co. KG as an opportunity to advance to being Germany’s leading manufacturer of cables as well as cabling systems for data communications and to further extend its portfolio of special cable products.