Walter Meier AG (SWF:WMHN) Walter Meier To Develop New Markets With The Acquisition Of Tosa

Walter Meier AG (SWF:WMHN) Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin ASA. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------



By October 1, 2008, the climate and processing engineering group Walter Meier is to acquire Tosa Holding AG, a company active in the areas of metalworking machinery and hand tools. Tosa comprises the two operating companies Tool AG and Tool (France) SARL, which will allow Walter Meier to strengthen its activities in the processing area in Switzerland and France.

By October 1, 2008, Walter Meier is to acquire Tosa, a company that complements its existing business segments perfectly. Silvan G.-R. Meier, CEO of Walter Meier, is delighted: "With this acquisition, we shall strengthen our existing product categories in the Processing Division and, at the same time, develop two important new markets. In addition, we will be able to leverage substantial synergies in product management and in procurement." In 2007, Tosa generated sales of approximately CHF 39 million from metalworking machinery and hand tools, and the company employs 45 staff in Fällanden (Switzerland) and Evry (France), all of whom have been taken on. Both sales and employees are split more or less equally between the two countries. Tosa's principal customers are local specialist retailers for craftsmen and industrial companies, who are provided with a comprehensive and innovative range of products as well as rapid delivery times.

New product brands supplement Jet and Wilton Tosa's own brands, namely Promac, Tool-Craft and Tool-Air, will be maintained as additions to the existing Walter Meier brands Jet and Wilton. Roberto Ettlin, a Member of the Extended Group Management, is responsible for integrating the company into the Walter Meier Group and for cooperating with the existing business unit WMH Tool Group International, which operates predominantly in Europe. The former majority shareholder in Tosa, Peter Seyfert, will also work on the project. The newly affiliated sales organizations in Switzerland and France will remain largely independent. Silvan G.-R. Meier comments, "Tosa's expertise in retail distribution is a valuable benefit for Walter Meier because our European business - with the exception of Germany - has previously been conducted solely via general importers. Tosa's knowledge will be applied immediately to the German market, where Walter Meier has had its own sales team for a few years." As previously announced, Jochen Nutz will become the new CFO of Walter Meier. We are pleased to inform that he will be taking up his position in Group Management on November 17, 2008, and will be able to provide optimal support for the acquisition on the financial side. For Walter Meier, the acquisition will have a positive impact on all key figures relating to the 2008 annual results.

Further information Patrick Bossart, Head of Corporate Communications +41 44 928 15 24, patrick.bossart@waltermeier.com

Key dates December 31, 2008 Fiscal year closes 2008 February 24, 2009 Annual report 2008 plus Media and Financial Analysts' Conference March 24, 2009 Annual shareholders' meeting

Walter Meier Walter Meier is an international climate and engineering technology group. The company was founded in 1937 and today generates sales of over CHF 800 million with 1800 employees. Walter Meier sets great store by customer-specific total solutions and comprehensive support services. Shares in Walter Meier are listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange (symbol WMN, securities number 1594024).

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Walter Meier AG Laubisrütistrasse 24 Stäfa

WKN: 1594024; ISIN: CH0015940247; Index: SPI, SPIEX, SSCI; Listed: Main Market in SWX Swiss Exchange;



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Walter Meier AG

http://www.waltermeier.com

ISIN: CH0015940247

Stock Identifier: XSWX.WMN