• Programme to reward commitment
• Global rollout planned after launch in Germany
• First step: repurchase of up to 200,000 shares

Wiesbaden, 26 August 2013 - After its successful IPO, KION GROUP AG plans to set up an employee share programme to allow its staff to benefit from the performance of the company. KION Group, the world's largest specialist supplier of industrial trucks and associated services, intends to launch the programme in Germany initially before rolling it out in other countries around the world, wherever possible.

The preparations for this programme include the buyback of shares to be held in treasury as resolved today by the Executive Board of KION GROUP AG. During a period between 28 August 2013 and 15 October 2013, up to 200,000 no-par-value shares are to be repurchased, which equates to approximately 0.2 per cent of the share capital. The intention is to offer these shares to staff as part of an employee share programme. The buy-back programme will be carried out by Goldman Sachs International as agent of the Company. Under the terms of the order that will be placed, Goldman Sachs International will decide on the execution of the purchase independently and without any influence from KION GROUP AG.

'Our company's success relies on a high level of commitment from our employees', emphasised Gordon Riske, CEO of KION GROUP AG. 'We want to reward this dedication with a share programme that is designed to help our employees identify with the company even more strongly. Through the programme, employees will be able to benefit even more directly from the KION Group's growth strategy.'

The repurchase of shares by the company is beginning during a two-week trading window, which opens upon publication of the half-year results and is based on internal restrictions on when employees can trade KION Group securities. During this period, employees may trade company shares, including those members of staff who participated in an earlier, broad-based management participation program who were subject to a lock-up period until recently. Executive Board members and other managers continue to be bound by a lock-up period of twelve months from the IPO.

About KION Group

The KION Group - comprising the six brands Linde, STILL, Fenwick, OM STILL, Baoli and Voltas - is the largest manufacturer of industrial trucks in Western and Eastern Europe, the global number two in the industry and the leading non-domestic supplier in China. The Linde and STILL brands serve the premium segment worldwide. Fenwick is the largest supplier of material handling products in France, while OM STILL is a market leader in Italy. The Baoli brand focuses on the economy segment, and Voltas is a market leader in India. The KION Group employed more than 21,000 people and generated revenue of EUR4.73 billion in 2012. KION Group is present in more than 100 countries and has a global market share of around 15 percent.

Disclaimer

This document and the information contained herein are for information purposes only and do not constitute a prospectus or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Future results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, e.g. changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory reforms, results of technical studies, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financing. We do not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.
 

Further information for the media

Michael Hauger
Head of Corporate Communications
Tel.: +49 (0) 611.770-655
Email michael.hauger@kiongroup.com

Frank Brandmaier
Head of Corporate Media Relations
Tel.: +49 (0) 611.770-752
Email frank.brandmaier@kiongroup.com

Further information for investors

Frank Herzog
Head of Corporate Finance
Tel.: +49 (0) 611.770-303
Email frank.herzog@kiongroup.com

Silke Glitza
Head of Investor Relations and M&A
Tel.: +49 (0) 611.770-450
Email silke.glitza@kiongroup.com