Kirkel – 4 March 2006. Roughly 100 days after Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte Holding AG went public its stock was accepted to the MDAX on Friday evening. Following the decision of Deutsche Börse AG’s Working Committee for Equity Indices the main reason for this move was the good development of the share price. Praktiker now ranks 41 by market capitalization (previous month 43) of the public float and 36 exchange transactions (previous month 40).

Praktiker’s CEO Wolfgang Werner welcomed this decision: “We are glad that our stock is now even more attractive after acceding to the MDAX. But to us this is not only a recognition but also an obligation to continue to focus on our strategy of profitable growth. This means an active pursuit of the expansion in Eastern Europe and the implementation of the easy-to-shop concept in Germany."

The MDAX (Midcap Index) of Deutsche Börse comprises the 50 most important stocks that follow the leading DAX 30 stocks. The Praktiker stock will officially accede to the “second league” of listed German companies on 20 March after it had been allowed an unscheduled access to the SDAX on 21 February only.