MS Deutschland Holding

Jan 13, 2014

January 08, 2014 13:09 ET | Source: EQS Group AG DGAP-News: Callista Private Equity GmbH & Co. KG / Key word(s):AcquisitionCallista Private Equity GmbH & Co. KG acquires majority stake inReederei Peter Deilmann and DEUTSCHLAND ++ Managing DirectorChristopher Nolde takes a stake in the company08.01.2014 / 19:08----------------------------------------------------------------------Callista Private Equity acquires majority stake in Reederei Peter Deilmannand DEUTSCHLAND-Name recognition, service and long-term profitability form the basis forfurther company success-Managing Director Christopher Nolde takes a stake in the companyMunich, January 8, 2014 - Callista Private Equity GmbH & Co. KG ('CallistaPrivate Equity') is pleased to announce the acquisition from AURELIUS AG('AURELIUS') of a majority interest in MS Deutschland Holding, and hence inMS 'Deutschland' Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH ('MS Deutschland GmbH'), towhich both Reederei Peter Deilmann and the cruise liner MS DEUTSCHLANDbelong. The DEUTSCHLAND is well known in the German-speaking world as the'Traumschiff' from a popular TV series of the same name. The parties haveagreed not to reveal the purchase price. The transaction was preceded by adue diligence process and lengthy discussions between the parties lastingseveral weeks.The acquisition of a majority interest by Callista Private Equity isintended to continue the restructuring successfully initiated by AURELIUSin 2010. Following initial success, Callista Private Equity aims to pressahead with the strategy that has been applied by implementing furthermeasures on both the operational and strategic sides. Callista PrivateEquity is also planning to inject more capital into the company byreinforcing the equity component with a view to permanently underpinningthe growth course that has been set.Under the terms of the transaction, Christopher Nolde, Managing Director ofMS Deutschland GmbH, is taking a stake in the company and will continue toapply its growth-based reorientation strategy. 'There a very few German brands that embody dreams and desires for thefiner things in life like the Traumschiff, and AURELIUS has achievedconsiderable success together with the management team since acquiring thecompany in 2010. Nevertheless, there is still plenty to do and theDEUTSCHLAND is a very demanding management task overall,' says Olaf Meier,CEO of Callista Private Equity. He adds: 'With the many years of experiencewe have gained in successful company development, we specialize insituations like this. Callista Private Equity is keen to promote continuityand successful performance over the long run, so we're delighted that Mr.Nolde has agreed to remain CEO of the company. What's more, the DEUTSCHLANDis an attractive ship with a fantastic underlying brand and an outstandingteam. The latest marketing trends for the luxury cruise ship theDEUTSCHLAND are very positive. This is reinforced by the fact that variousfactors constraining the cruise industry in 2013 are no longer applicableoverall. Against this backdrop, Callista Private Equity believes this is agood time to invest in the DEUTSCHLAND. 'Callista Private Equity intends to further strengthen the DEUTSCHLAND andReederei Peter Deilmann brands and sustainably boost the earnings of thecorporate group.The orientation and positioning of the DEUTSCHLAND as a 'grand hotel of thehigh seas' will be retained under Callista Private Equity in order toensure that the passengers continue to enjoy the usual high level ofservice or even better.About Callista Private EquityCallista Private Equity GmbH & Co.KG ('Callista Private Equity'),headquartered in Munich, acquires distressed companies, non-core groupassets and business units. The company‟s success is based on the subsequentrestructuring process. Callista Private Equity employs a team ofexperienced international experts to reorganize the operations of theacquired company and concentrate on restructuring resulting in sustainableprofitability.To find out more, visit www.callista-pe.deContact:Axel MühlhausT: +49 69 9055-0552E: amuehlhaus@edicto.deAbout MS 'Deutschland' Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbHMS 'Deutschland' Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, headquartered in Neustadt inHolstein (Germany), operates cruises worldwide throughout the year as theowner of the ocean cruise liner MS DEUTSCHLAND, also known as the'Traumschiff' from the television series of the same name. With a length of175m and a width of 23m, the MS DEUTSCHLAND as 'grand hotel of the highseas' has a total of 294 passenger cabins. The ship received the award of'Best Ship of 2013' from both the Lufthansa City Center travel agencies andDiners Club. With Reederei Peter Deilmann GmbH, Touristik-BureauInternational GmbH and Deutsche Kreuzfahrt Management Services GmbH, MS'Deutschland' Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH also includes fully-ownedsubsidiaries that look after sales, marketing and operation of the cruiseship.To find out more, visit www.msdeutschland-gmbh.deContact:Nicholas WenzelT: +49 89 599458115E: nicholas.wenzel@cnc-communications.comAbout AURELIUSAURELIUS has been successfully operating in the international market forcompany acquisitions for many years. The focus is on companies andcorporate spin-offs in markets with plenty of potential for development.Once under the AURELIUS umbrella, the acquisitions are given a long-termstrategic orientation and their potential developed. Building on activeoperational support, the subsidiaries benefit from the managementexperience and financial strength of the parent company. This is what makesAURELIUS a 'good home' for companies and their employees.At present, the AURELIUS Group encompasses 17 subsidiaries around the globewith facilities in Europe, Asia and the United States. Among others, theseinclude traditional names like Blaupunkt and Berentzen together withnumerous industrial enterprises. Companies are acquired in accordance withstrict investment criteria, although there is no specific industry focus.Shares of AURELIUS AG are listed in the m:access segment of the MunichStock Exchange and are traded on all German stock exchanges under ISINDE000A0JK2A8.To find out more, visit www.aureliusinvest.de.Contact:Anke BanaschewskiInvestor Relations & Corporate CommunicationsT: +49 89 544799 - 0E: investor@aureliusinvest.deEnd of Corporate News---------------------------------------------------------------------08.01.2014 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - acompany of EQS Group AG.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de---------------------------------------------------------------------247328 08.01.2014 Related Articles other press releases by EQS Group AG DGAP-PVR: SLM Solutions Group AG: Release according to Article 26, Section 1 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] with the objective of Europe-wide distribution June 03, 2015 12:40