SMT Scharf AG acquires South African supplier of mining equipment Sareco Engineering CC

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merger, acquisition and takeover

Hamm (euro adhoc) - Hamm, June 20, 2008 - SMT Scharf AG (German
Securities Code (WKN) 575198, ISIN DE0005751986), technology and
world market leader for rail-bound railway systems for the mining
sector, has acquired Sareco Engineering CC, a South African supplier
of mining equipment. Sareco is market leader for mining chairlifts in
southern Africa. The company recorded revenues of more than 20
million South African Rand in fiscal year 2007/08 and enjoyed
significantly positive earnings. Sareco´s main customers are South
African platinum and gold mines. The previous owners of Sareco,
Raymond Browning and John Gibson, will stay with the company as
managing director and technical consultant, respectively. The
acquisition agreement signed on June 18, 2008 applies retroactively
as of March 1, 2008 and is subject to a change of legal form for the
South African company that will be implemented as part of the
transfer. "This acquisition bolsters our position with our South
African customers. For them, chairlifts are a transport technology
which continues to increase in importance," commented Dr. Friedrich
Trautwein, SMT Scharf AG's CEO. "At the same time, it gives us the
opportunity to bring Sareco´s proven technology to other markets. We
expect this to make a visible contribution to SMT Scharf Group´s
further international growth," he continued. In view of the
acquisition, SMT Scharf AG's Managing Board confirmed its forecast of
generating further growth in revenues and earnings in 2008 and the
coming years. However it is still not possible to fully gauge the
impact that further developments in the mining sector in Germany's
Saarland region could have on SMT Scharf.

Company profile

The SMT Scharf Group develops, builds and maintains rail-bound
railway systems for mining and use in tunnels. The trains are used
all over the world, primarily in hard coal mines, gold mines and in
underground mining for platinum, diamonds, copper and nickel. They
are used to transport material and personnel with working loads of up
to 35t. Rail-bound trains are the only means of transport that can be
used underground on branching lines to cope with inclines of more
than 13 degrees. The SMT Scharf Group has subsidiaries in Germany,
Poland, South Africa, China and Russia, as well as agencies around
the world. The railways developed by SMT Scharf are characterized,
above all, by high-performance engines, high working loads, high
speed and low operating and maintenance costs. SMT Scharf records
more than 70% of its revenues in high-growth foreign markets such as
Russia, China and South Africa. The replacement parts and repairs
business constitutes around 50% of revenues. The advances in
exploitation of resources make underground conditions increasingly
difficult which in turn requires more high technology transport
solutions in mining. The total market for underground transport
technology comprises around EUR 5 billion to EUR 7 billion per year
according to company estimates. SMT Scharf AG has been listed in the
Prime Standard (regulated market) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
since April 11, 2007.

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: SMT Scharf AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Contact

Investor Relations

cometis AG

Henryk Deter

Tel.: +49(0)611 - 205855-13

Fax: +49(0)611 - 205855-66

e-mail: deter@cometis.de

Branche: Machine Manufacturing
ISIN: DE0005751986
WKN: 575198
Börsen: Börse Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Börse Berlin / free trade
Börse München / free trade