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AURELIUS acquires AKAD University - a pioneer of private distance learning universities

DGAP-News: AURELIUS AG / Key word(s): Acquisition
AURELIUS acquires AKAD University - a pioneer of private distance
learning universities

17.04.2014 / 11:00

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AURELIUS acquires AKAD University - a pioneer of private distance learning
universities

- Reputable university with a strong brand and growth potential

- Second purchase from the Franz Cornelsen Bildungsgruppe

- Purchase at terms and conditions typical for AURELIUS

Munich, April 17, 2014 - The Munich-based AURELIUS Group (ISIN
DEoooAoJKosA8) is acquiring AKAD Bildungsgesellschaft mbH and AKAD Kolleg
für Erwachsenenbildung GmbH from the Franz Cornelsen Bildungsgruppe. Since
1959, AKAD University has been active in the area of private further
education pursued parallel to professional work. As a pioneer in the
distance learning market, it has an excellent reputation with students and
industry and holds a strong market position as number two in the market for
private distance learning universities. The Company most recently generated
around EUR 16.5 million in revenues with approximately 9,000 students. For
Franz Cornelsen Bildungsholding, the sale is part of its concentration on
its core business and the second sale of a subsidiary to AURELIUS following
the sale of Studienkreis about a year ago.

The market for distance learning degree programs has grown robustly in
recent years. The number of students at the ten most important private
distance learning universities has increased by approximately 12 percent
per year. Meanwhile, a total of around 40,000 people choose this path. The
market volume for in-company advanced vocational training and cooperations
with companies currently exceeds EUR 30 billion in Germany. "AKAD
University is a classic AURELIUS case in a robustly expanding future
market," says AURELIUS Executive Board member Donatus Albrecht. "AURELIUS
plans to carry through with the consolidation strategy already implemented
by Cornelsen, to lead the study program further into the digital age, and
to realize growth through additional future-oriented courses of study. This
results in excellent potential for AKAD and an extremely interesting
investment for AURELIUS."

AURELIUS is consistently further expanding its commitment in the area of
private education with the takeover. The AURELIUS subsidiary Studienkreis
concentrates on the support of students in elementary, junior high and high
school. The professionalized private tutorial classes accompanying primary
studies as a permanent institution is enjoying constantly rising demand.