Continental to Acquire 51 Percent of Matador Rubber Group

Continental AG, Hanover, is set to acquire a 51 percent stake in the rubber and conveyor belt business of Matador Group, Puchov, Slovakia, subject to the ap­proval of antitrust authorities. "With this move we are strengthening our ties to our highly successful joint venture partner. At the same time we are expanding our operational base in Eastern Europe markets as well as our production capacities for PLT in low-cost countries," said Continental’s Executive Board chairman Manfred Wennemer on April 11 in Hanover. Continental (76 percent) and Matador (24 percent) have been aligned in a joint venture for the production of truck tires in Puchov since 1998. The two parties agreed not to disclose the details of the agreement, including the financial volume.

In 2006 Matador Group had 4,770 employees and posted sales of approx. €450 million. “With this strategic alliance we will further improve the quality and volume of Matador tire production, open new markets and increase the value of the Matador brand. After excellent experiences with our truck tire joint venture, we are sure that this partnership will be the best solution for the future of Matador and also for our employees. We are, moreover, also strengthening our position in Automotive - our second strategic business,” said Štefan Rosina, CEO of the Matador Group.

“In combining forces and experience, we will improve our market positions in Central and Eastern Europe and get additional sales opportunities in Russia, Ukraine and the Stan States. Especially our position in Russia will be expanded, as we are not only improving our access to the market but getting a production facility in Omsk as well,” Wennemer empha­sized. “Operationally we intend to integrate Matador into our brand portfolio and invest in expanding annual production capacities for PLT from 5.5 to more than 7 million. This gives us a highly efficient tool to be used against low-cost competition,” Wennemer added. The Matador ma­chinery factory in Puchov will be integrated into the machinery factory in Hanover-Stöcken as a second pillar. On top of that, Continental gets additional capacities for research and devel­opment.

The ContiTech Conveyor Belt Group also stands to benefit from the acquisition. “Adding Matador’s business to ours makes sense strategically,” said Gerhard Lerch, member of Con­tinental’s Executive Board and responsible for the ContiTech division. “The company is very well-positioned in the Eastern Europe.” With a workforce of 160, Matador manufactures a wide range of textile belts in Slovakia. The ContiTech Conveyor Belt Group has eight loca­tions in Chile, China, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, and Mexico. With its approximately 2,700 employees, it posted sales of €379 million in 2006.

ADSK: Autodesk and Renault Form Three-Year Global Strategic Alliance

Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today announced a multi-million-dollar three-year global strategic alliance with Renault's renowned Design Department. The deal underscores Renault's commitment to Autodesk AliasStudio and Autodesk Maya software applications as the foundation for its pioneering global digital design workflow. The Renault Design Department uses complementary AliasStudio and Maya software to design every new vehicle model -- including the new Clio 3, Europe's Car of the Year for 2006 -- and at every stage of the design process. AliasStudio is used extensively for Renault's initial conceptual design and creative ideation process through to digital prototyping, Class A production surfacing and final validation, while Maya supports Renault's advanced design visualization needs.

Established in 1898, Renault is Europe's leading automotive brand, designing, developing, manufacturing and selling innovative, safe and environmentally-friendly vehicles worldwide. Producing more than 2.3 million cars and light commercial vehicles (LCV) in 2006, Renault has industrial and commercial presence in 118 countries. In 1999, Renault and Nissan signed the Renault-Nissan Alliance, uniting the two global companies through a coherent strategy, common goals and principles, results-driven synergies and shared best practices, while respecting and reinforcing their respective identities and brands.

Automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide now create a wider variety of models than ever before to meet the changing needs of customers in numerous niche markets. To meet this need, Renault continues to introduce an increasingly broad and diverse range of new vehicle models. This trend not only results in a heavier workload for designers but also a reduction in the development time available for each project.

As a result of this trend, Renault depends on an efficient digital workflow to maximize time by making improvements early in the design process to enable better design innovation and quality. Largely dependent upon Autodesk software, Renault's fully integrated digital workflow encompasses modeling, digital prototyping, visualization and presentation processes, and supports the need to evaluate a greater number of design themes and make faster decisions. In addition, digital prototypes have made it easier for Renault's Design Department to collaborate with other members of the extended design team including Renault's Vehicle Engineering team, encouraging greater communication, collaboration and faster design evaluation. With Autodesk software, the Renault Design Department has developed automated processes for creating ultra-high-quality stills and animated images, addressing the challenge of reducing production time and the need to make rendering expertise available for Digital Modelers. Renault's designers and decision-makers are now able to actively visualize a virtual 3D model as it evolves within the context of a 'real' environment -- all within a few hours of calculation.

Autodesk's strategic alliance with the Renault Design Department, which originated with Alias before it was acquired by Autodesk in January 2006, has also helped to drive the development of Alias' design products, influencing industry-critical enhancements such as Class A modeling. In the future, the successful execution of Renault's digital design processes will continue to rely heavily on Autodesk software solutions. By forming this alliance, Renault Design Department is demonstrating both the trust it has in Autodesk as a solutions partner and the importance it places on its software as a critical element in its overall workflow vision and design strategy.

"Autodesk is pleased to partner with an industry leader such as Renault -- an innovator that is taking automobile design to the next level," said Carl Bass, Autodesk president and chief executive officer. "Renault Design Department's world-class digital workflow process is recognized as a benchmark throughout the automotive industry and we are committed to ensuring Renault's continued success in pursuing design innovation."

CON:Continental's global sales of winter tires rise to 19.1 million in 2006

In 2006, Continental AG once again benefited from the dy­namic growth in demand for winter tires for cars, which has continued unabated over several years. Last year global sales of winter tires by the international automotive supplier reached 19.1 million. This figure is 8 per cent higher than in 2005 and represents an increase of 41 per cent over 2002. According to the findings of winter tire market leader Continental, the reason for the high demand is first and foremost a further heightening of safety awareness on the part of motorists, plus the amendment to the German road traffic regulations.

"This fifth consecutive record result confirms the correctness of our approach in this attractive segment and is reassuring for the coming years, since it can be attributed to growth in sev­eral markets. In Europe these are predominantly Germany, Russia and Eastern Europe as a whole, but they also include Italy, Holland and Belgium“, explained Manfred Wennemer, Chairman of the Board at Continental AG, and also head of the Passenger and Light Truck Tires Division. “We are moreover very pleased with market developments in North America and are counting on being able to continue this positive trend."

The Continental Corporation is a leading supplier of tires, brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics and technical elastomers. In 2005 the corporation realised sales of EUR13.8 billion. At present it has a worldwide workforce of approximately 85,000.

The tire divisions are an Official Sponsor of UEFA EURO 2008TM, which will be held in Austria and Switzerland in June 2008, and of the UEFA Under21 Championship, to be held in Holland in June 2007. For detailed information, visit the websites www.ContiSoccerWorld.de, www.ContiFanWorld.com and www.conti-online.com