Kirkel – September 30, 2008. From October 1, 2008, internal services at the Praktiker Group will be bundled in a separate service company, Praktiker Services GmbH. This relates to the functions IT, Organization and Logistics. With this important structural decision, efficiency and competitiveness of the Praktiker Group in Germany and abroad will be sustainably improved.

In a first step, the service functions will be bundled at the national level, i.e. for Praktiker Germany, Max Bahr and extra BAU+HOBBY. At a later stage the international activities will also be included.

Thanks to synergies and added efficiency, the new company will create more flexibility and leeway for future investments and innovations. Moreover, it completes the structural integration of Max Bahr. By bundling these functions, all processes, systems and structures in regards of services will be harmonized and optimized. The retail brands in turn can focus on their core processes.

Managing Director of Praktiker Services GmbH will be Christoph Diekmeyer, who until now headed the division IT and Organization of Praktiker Bau- und Heimwerkermärkte AG.

In total, the company will employ more than 200 employees in Kirkel, Hamburg and Kerpen. They will be legally integrated into the new company but remain at their present locations. This way, a cross-locational and cross-divisional network is being created.