05/12/2006 - Continued focus on core activities - Süd-Chemie is negotiating the sale of its pet products business

Süd-Chemie AG, Munich is currently negotiating the sale of its Pet Products Business Unit, which includes Gimborn GmbH, Emmerich, North Rhine-Westphalia and its subsidiaries. Süd-Chemie AG´s Supervisory Board today approved the proposed transaction. Süd-Chemie expects that sales negotiations will be successfully concluded in the near future.

The selling price will probably be in the region of €30 million, before deduction of financial liabilities and pension obligations. The Pet Products Business Unit reported an EBITDA of €4 million in 2005, based on sales of €55 million. The 274 employees, 112 of which are based at the business unit headquarters in Emmerich, are to be taken over.

The Pet Products Business Unit mainly processes bentonite to produce natural cat-litter that is highly effective and environmentally friendly. This business is complemented by a range of sophisticated nutritional supplements, care products and other luxury items for cats, dogs and rodents. The Business Unit serves European markets. Long-term supply agreements ensure the volumes of bentonite required to produce natural cat-litter.

Süd-Chemie will be concentrating on its core sectors of catalysis, food and feed additives, foundry products and performance packaging, as well as energy and environmental technology. Focusing on these core activities, it intends to promote expansion of its leading global market positions.

Munich, 12 May 2006

Enquiries:
Süd-Chemie AG
Patrick Salchow
Head of Corporate Public Relations
Tel. +49 (0) 89 5110-250
Fax +49 (0) 89 5110-156

Süd-Chemie (www.sud-chemie.com) is an independent specialty chemical company headquartered in Munich and operating on a worldwide scale. Key markets served by its Adsorbents Division include the consumer-goods, packaging and foundry industries. Products manufactured by the Catalysts Division offer solutions for water treatment, petrochemicals processing, energy storage and hydrogen production, as well as off-gas purification. The common denominator for all its products and innovations is the efficient and sparing use of natural resources to enhance the quality of life for humans and the environment. Sales reached €933 million in 2005, of which almost 80% were generated outside Germany. Süd-Chemie employs more than 5,100 people at its 70 sales and production sites around the world.