Business News

Giesecke & Devrient Publishes Offer to secunet AG Shareholders

Monday 17. August 2009 - Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) is making secunet Security Networks AG (secunet) shareholders an official offer of EUR 5.70 per share. Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has now approved the offer.

The offer has a time limit and closes on September 30, 2009 at midnight. G&D holds a 76.4 percent stake in secunet. G&D had announced the voluntary public offer for purchasing the remaining shares in July when it acquired the share package from RWTÜV AG, the major shareholder.

G&D’s purchase offer of EUR 5.70 per share gives all secunet Security Networks AG shareholders the opportunity to sell their shares at the same price as RWTÜV AG, the long-standing major shareholder. The offer price includes a 43 percent premium over the average XETRA price on the 200 days before the decision to make the purchase offer was published. secunet shares have not traded at that level in over a year.

secunet is a specialist in high-security IT solutions, with international enterprises and public authorities among its customers. IT security technology is a strategic business field for G&D. Acquiring these shares will allow the Munich-based company to strengthen its foothold and continue expanding its excellent market position in this segment.

G&D initially acquired the majority stake of 50 percent plus one share from RWTÜV AG and T-Systems in February 2004. In July 2009, G&D increased its stake to 76.4 percent by purchasing the RWTÜV AG shares.