Bochum, April 17, 2007: GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft sells its plant engineering subsidiary Lurgi, Frankfurt am Main, to Air Liquide S.A., Paris, a worldwide producer of industrial and medical gases. The disinvestment is based on an Equity Value of approximately EUR 550 million which is equivalent to an Enterprise Value of EUR 200 million - including the assumption of Lurgi's cash position as well as its pension and similar liabilities. The transaction is subject to the approval of the relevant antitrust authorities.

The sale of its plant engineering subsidiary Lurgi, is another significant step in GEA Group's repositioning of its portfolio. Together with last year's sale of Fleissner, another engineering subsidiary, as well as the integration of the operating activities of Zimmer AG into the Lurgi Group, GEA Group has now almost completed the disposal of its plant engineering businesses. Subsequently, GEA will focus its operating activities entirely on its highly profitable and fast-growing mechanical engineering businesses, especially those that serve industries such as food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and power generation. "The disposal of Lurgi provides us with a healthy balance sheet and enables us to continue our profitable growth strategy focused on our core business", explained Jürg Oleas, CEO of GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft.

GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft is an international technology group that focuses on specialty mechanical engineering - especially process engineering and equipment. Around 17,500 employees generated sales of more than EUR 4.3 billion in 2006. The GEA Group is one of the world's market and technology leaders in 90 percent of its businesses and is listed in Germany's MDAX index (G1A, WKN 660200).