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Report on material events after
the reporting date
On 15 February 2009, the Aareal Bank Group
entered into an agreement with the German
Special Fund for Financial Market Stabilisation
("SoFFin") on a comprehensive set of measures to
ensure the long-term future of the bank's sustain-
ably profitable business, and in order to be well
positioned to manage the very difficult market
environment. In accordance with this agreement,
SoFFin will make 525 million in capital
available to Aareal Bank by way of an unlimited
silent participation. In addition, SoFFin will grant
Aareal Bank a guarantee facility for new, unsecured
issues with a maximum maturity of 36 months
for a total volume of up to 4 billion. The agree-
ment is subject to the conclusion of the final
contracts, and approval by the European Com-
mission.
Taking into account the silent participation by
SoFFin, which is fully recognised as Tier 1 capital,
Aareal Bank's Tier 1 ratio is increased significantly.
This recapitalisation in form of a silent participation
protects the interests of shareholders, since it
avoids a dilution of existing shares. Aareal Holding
Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH announced that it
will not reduce its 37.23 % stake during the entire
term of the silent participation. Aareal Holding and
SoFFin will enter into a voting agreement, obliging
Aareal Holding to maintain a blocking minority
stake. This will ensure the stability of the share-
holder structure and the independence of Aareal
Bank Group, with Aareal Holding as an anchor
shareholder.
Beyond the applicable legal provisions, SoFFin has
not imposed additional conditions on the Aareal
Bank Group. In particular, there will be no state
influence on the company's corporate governance,
nor will any changes be required to its proven
business model. In the interest of a swift redemp-
tion of the silent participation, Aareal Bank will
not distribute any dividends for the 2008 and 2009
financial years.
Thanks to this systematic approach to staff devel-
opment, Aareal Bank`s employees attend one
week of seminars and workshops each year on
average.
Aareal Bank, in cooperation with European Busi-
ness School (EBS) have the opportunity to attend
four continuing education courses at EBS's Real
Estate Management Institute (REMI). Accordingly,
the number of staff who supplement their inter-
national grades with an executive graduate course
targeted on the property sector at our partner
university continued to rise. The close cooperation
is supported in particular by experts from Aareal
Bank enhancing the training through hands-on
case studies and presentations.
Aareon AG organised development centres for
managers for the first time in 2008, where parti-
cipants have the opportunity to develop their key
skills and potential in a targeted manner. Additional
CPD programmes focused on the conversion
to MS Office 2007, and included SAP®
training
sessions.
Sponsoring new talent
Sponsoring qualification programmes to support
and develop new talent is a key aspect in our
personnel work. In this context, Aareal Bank has
been offering trainee programmes targeting uni-
versity graduates since 2000, in cooperation with
various universities with whom we join forces for
seminars and exchange programmes.
Responding to the competition for highly-qualified
staff, Aareal Bank thinks outside the square when
recruiting. We launched a comprehensive intern-
ship programme in 2008. The participants of this
programme, and those who will join in 2009,
will be recruited for vacant trainee posts over the
next years. Thanks to the strong response, the
programme already helped to establish an efficient
network.
78 Aareal Bank Group Annual Report 2008 | Group Management Report
