1993-1999   1993 Acquisition of Mauser Waldeck AG, the platform for a fourth corporate sector: Office Systems   Takeover of Heimann Systems GmbH in order to strengthen the security products business   Acquisition of a majority stake in Preh-Werke, expansion of Automotive       1995 Pierburg steps up US activities; growing globalization within the Group     1996 Name changed from Rheinmetall Berlin AG to Rheinmetall AG   Majority stake acquired in STN Atlas Elektronik GmbH, greater competence in the market for defence electronics       Nov. 1997                                 Richard Hirschmann GmbH & Co. taken over; expansion of communications technology business       1997 Rheinmetall Electronics is formed as Industrial Electronics unit comprising the Hirschmann-Group, Preh und Heimann Systems; the parent company is Aditron     1997 / 1998 Majority stake acquired in Kolbenschmidt AG; the Automotive sector branching out into a worldwide presence skilled in "every aspect of the engine"; Kolbenschmidt and Pierburg merge into Kolbenschmidt Pierburg AG       1999 With the acquisition of Oerlikon Contraves AG (Zurich) in September 1999 Rheinmetall DeTec AG has consequently improved its competence as army systems supplier and at the same time its international competitiveness; Oerlikon Contraves AG is a world-wide recognised supplier of gun- and guided missile systems for air defence		Contact cL historia Dr. Christian Leitzbach Hohenstein 150 42283 Wuppertal Germany Further information