• The Scheer Group continues its growth course and reinforces its industry and SAP Consulting expertise
• The Scheer Group and Software AG also announce a strategic partnership to strengthen Germany as a location for the IT industry
• This transaction completes the consolidation measures of Software AG’s SAP Consulting Business

Saarbrucken / Darmstadt, Germany, 4/1/2014

The Scheer Group GmbH, a network of high-growth IT software and consulting companies, and Software AG (FRA: SOW) yesterday signed an agreement whereby IDS Scheer Consulting GmbH, Software AG’s SAP consulting business in the German-speaking DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), will be acquired by the Scheer Group GmbH. With this acquisition, the Scheer Group expands its consulting expertise within the Group, particularly with regard to customers and markets in the SAP environment. Due to the focus of Software AG on product innovation, the SAP consulting business of the company was reduced in three steps. With the sale of the SAP business in the German-speaking region, Software AG has completed the consolidation of its SAP services activities. IDS Scheer Consulting GmbH will be fully transferred, including the trademark rights, to the Scheer Group. Further details and the sale price have not been disclosed. The deal is subject to approval by the merger authorities.

The Scheer Group network of companies grew by 50 percent in 2013 and has set itself a sales target of €100 million by 2017. The group has extensive experience in the consulting business and the successful market development in this segment has been a significant growth driver in recent years. Therefore, IDS Scheer Consulting GmbH, as the seventh member company of the Scheer Group, fits perfectly into the group’s overall portfolio. In the further development of the market, the Scheer Group will benefit, not least, from the acquired expertise in the area of Managed Services and the industry expertise in the areas of Manufacturing, Consumer Goods/Retail, Utilities and Public Services. In the context of the purchase of IDS Scheer Consulting, the Scheer Group and Software AG have also agreed to a strategic partnership to jointly strengthen Germany as an IT industry location, not least reflected in the very close cooperation of the companies within the German Federal Government initiated Software Cluster.

The Scheer Group founder Prof. Dr. August-Wilhelm Scheer on the purchase of the new company: “I am convinced that together with the experienced staff of IDS Scheer Consulting we can align the company on sustainable profitability. I look forward to working with colleagues that I learned to know and appreciate during our time in IDS Scheer AG. Customers of IDS Scheer Consulting can rely on excellent project work.  Those who use the ARIS software tool, which is based on the method of the same name that I developed, will continue to receive comprehensive and quality service in this new environment.”

The Scheer Group CEO Rudolf Keul sees the extension of the Scheer Group network of companies as an important step in regards to its strategic development:  “The Scheer Group connects companies with a clear product focus with those who have a wide range of expertise in the consulting business. With around 500 new colleagues, we will reach a size that allows us, both in the German-speaking countries as well as in neighboring countries, to develop a much broader market.”

Karl-Heinz Streibich, CEO of Software AG emphasizes: “This transaction will strengthen Germany as a sustainable IT location in the field of digital technologies.  We are committed to our role as spokespeople in the Software Cluster and will drive the development of the cluster together with the Scheer Group as part of our expanded strategic partnership.  That is why this step, which also represents the completion of our consolidation activities in the SAP consulting business, is a true win-win situation for both companies and for Germany.”

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Note:
Software AG and the Scheer Group GmbH cordially invite local journalists to a press conference which will be held today on April 1st, 2014, at 12:30 (CET) in the Scheer Tower on the North Campus of the University of Saarbrucken.
For national media representatives who are unable to attend the conference, there will be a joint conference call in German at 14:00 (CET). The access number for all participants is
+49 69/2222 10638. The participant code is 8292056.

About the Scheer Group GmbH
The Scheer Group GmbH supports and manages a group of innovative and technology-oriented companies within in a network. The focus is on small and medium-sized businesses. Professor of computer science and business entrepreneur Dr. August-Wilhelm Scheer Scheer founded the Scheer Group GmbH as sole shareholder. The Scheer Group holds significant stakes in six companies emphasizing the entrepreneurial power of the founding management. The network of companies provides customers with a growing network of companies with innovative products and services of high quality and business efficiency. Working in close collaboration with science and research, new products and consulting services arise for companies that are already ready for tomorrow’s success. www.scheer-group.com. Scheer blog at: www.august-wilhelm-scheer.com.

Contact Scheer Group GmbH:
Irmhild Plaetrich
I.C.E. Kommunikationsberatung
Helenenweg 1
66299 Friedrichsthal
Deutschland
Tel. (mobile): +49 (0)172 68 68 561
Email: pr@ice-plaetrich.com
www.ice-plaetrich.com

About Software AG
Software AG (Frankfurt TecDAX: SOW) helps organizations achieve their business objectives faster. The company’s big data, integration and business process technologies enable customers to drive operational efficiency, modernize their systems and optimize processes for smarter decisions and better service. Building on over 40 years of customer-centric innovation, the company is ranked as a “leader” in fourteen market categories, fueled by core product families Adabas-Natural, ARIS, Alfabet, Apama, Terracotta and webMethods. Software AG has more than 5,200 employees in 70 countries and had revenues of around €973 million (IFRS, unaudited) in 2013.

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Contact: Software AG Byung-Hun Park Senior Manager Financial Communications Uhlandstrasse 12 64297 Darmstadt Germany Tel: +49 6151 92-2070 Mobile: +49 151 64 911 317 Fax: +49 6151 92-34-2070 byung-hun.park@softwareag.com http://www.softwareag.com

or: Software AG Barbara Koegler Senior Vice President Corporate Communications Uhlandstrasse 12 64297 Darmstadt Germany Tel: +49 6151 92-1574 Fax: +49 6151 92-34-1243 press@softwareag.com http://www.softwareag.com