XMM-Newton observations of the Seyfert 1 galaxy ESO 141-G55

We report on an observation of the Seyfert 1 galaxy ESO 141-G55 performed in October 2001 with the EPIC MOS cameras and Reflection Grating Spectrometers (RGS) on board the XMM-Newton observatory. We find the hard (3-10 keV) continuum slope, including reflection, to be somewhat flatter (Gamma = 1.72 +/- 0.06) than that of a typical broad-line Seyfert 1 galaxy. The spectrum shows a weak emission line at 6.45 +/- 0.04 keV with a measured equivalent width of ~40 eV. A broad spectral feature is observed around 7 keV that can be fitted by an absorption edge at 7.6 +/- 0.1 keV. The extrapolation of the primary power law continuum to energies lower than 2 keV indicates the presence of a soft excess component contributing to 45 +/- 3% of the overall flux in the 0.3-2.0 keV energy range. This soft-excess cannot be explained solely by enhanced reflection from a highly ionized disk.