Selm/Holzwickede/Lünen.

It is with great sadness and shock that we have to inform you about the accidental death of our chairman

Dr. Hermann Niehues

born March 29, 1947, deceased September 7, 2008.

Dr. Hermann Niehues joined the company on January 1, 1978, as executive director. In 1992, he was appointed chair of RETHMANN AG & Co. KG. He also acted concurrently as supervisory board chairman of affiliated companies SARIA AG & Co. KG and REMONDIS AG & Co. KG; he directly managed Rhenus AG & Co. KG as its chairman.

Beyond the RETHMANN group of companies, he accompanied the growth of industrial sectors in the associations for Water and Recycling Management, Logistics and Bio-Industry as a member of many boards, committees and chairmanships. He was also available to other companies in an advisory capacity and as a member of boards of management and advisory boards, such as his last positions as chairman of Westfalen AG, on the board of directors of Rölfs WP Partner AG, as board member of the Institute of German Economy, or as chairman of "Ressort Verkehrspolitik" in the council of economic advisors of political party CDU.

He was involved as a member of the Steering Committee of the society for promoting Olympic equestrian tournaments. He actively supported science and teaching on the boards of the Münster, Leizpig and Hamburg universities.

With Dr. Hermann Niehues, family-owned RETHMANN group is losing its chairperson. Dr Niehues significantly shaped the group's growth during the past 30 years. As the owning family we owe him so much, and we are losing a wonderful friend. Today, our sympathy goes to his wife Jutta, his daughter Katja and his family.

Norbert Rethmann, Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender der
RETHMANN AG & Co. KG.