01/02/2006 - Sale of rheological activities and Copisil business to Rockwood finalised

Following the contract closing on 30 December 2005, sale of the Performance Additives Business Unit and the Copisil business operated by Süd-Chemie AG, Munich to Rockwood Specialties Group Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, USA has now been finalised. The transaction had already been approved by the EU antitrust authorities on 13 December 2005.

The Performance Additives Unit produces rheological additives for the paints and coatings industry, as well as the cosmetics industry. The Copisil business includes the production of additives for carbonless copying paper (Copisil). The American specialty-chemical company Rockwood is to acquire both the technology and the brand rights to these activities, as well as the production facilities for rheological additives. Total sales generated by the operations sold amount to some 42 million euros. All 125 staff in the rheological sector, employed mainly at sites in Moosburg, Bavaria and Louisville, Kentucky, USA, are to be taken over by Rockwood.

In selling these operations, Süd-Chemie is focusing on its core competencies in the fields of catalysis, food and feed additives, foundry products and performance packaging, as well as energy and environmental technology, thereby promoting expansion of its leading global position in these markets.

Munich, 2 January 2006

Enquiries:
Patrick Salchow
Head of Corporate Public Relations
Süd-Chemie AG
Tel. +49 (0)89 5110-250
Fax +49 (0)89 5110-302

Süd-Chemie 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, as well as the paper and plastics 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 of €862 million were generated in 2004, 80% of these outside Germany. Süd-Chemie employs more than 5,100 people at its 62 sales and production sites around the world.