10/27/2006 - Süd-Chemie acquires catalyst manufacturer Tricat Zeolites GmbH in Bitterfeld

Süd-Chemie AG, based in Munich, has concluded an agreement with Tricat Zeolites GmbH, Bitterfeld to take over Tricat Zeolites GmbH with retroactive effect from September 30, 2006. Tricat Zeolites produces zeolites, which are specialty catalysts used in the refining and petrochemical industry, as well as in environmental applications. Süd-Chemie will be taking over approximately forty employees at the Bitterfeld site. Approval has already been received from the antitrust authorities. It was agreed that no details of the purchase price would be disclosed.

With the acquisition of Tricat Zeolites and the planned expansion of its existing production capacity, Süd-Chemie is reacting to a rapid increase in the global demand for these specialty catalysts. This step will strengthen Süd-Chemie’s leading position in a dynamic growth market. The main customers for Süd-Chemie’s zeolite catalysts are companies in the chemical and petrochemical sectors and the automotive components industry.

Zeolites are used to manufacture important base materials for chemicals and fuel components. Applications for Süd-Chemie’s zeolites include the manufacture of high-octane petrol, cold-resistant diesel and high-grade intermediates used in plastics manufacturing. In future, Süd-Chemie’s zeolite catalysts will also be used to produce propylene from natural gas instead of from crude oil.

In the environmental sector, these catalysts are used to purify industrial emission, another potential application being in the future market of exhaust catalysts for diesel-driven vehicles.

Dr. Hans Jürgen Wernicke, Member of the Managing Board of Süd-Chemie AG said: "Our strategy is to apply our innovative catalyst technologies in attractive growth markets for speciality chemicals in order to further strengthen our leading market positions. This transaction enables us to satisfy the increasing needs of our customers for tailor-made zeolite catalysts. Tricat Zeolites will become the Süd-Chemie Group’s second major foothold for zeolite production, together with Süd-Chemie Zeolites in Richards Bay, South Africa.“

A press conference on the takeover of Tricat Zeolites GmbH by Süd-Chemie AG will take place at the Tricat plant at 5.30 p.m. on 30 October 2006 in the conference room on the second floor (Address: Im Chemiepark Bitterfeld Wolfen, Areal B, Tricat-Strasse, 06749 Bitterfeld). Participants will be Dr. Hans Jürgen Wernicke and Dr. Chang W. Chi, President of Tricat Industries, Inc., USA, and Managing Director of Tricat Management GmbH, Bitterfeld.

Munich, 27 October 2006

Enquiries to:
Süd-Chemie AG
Jochen Orlowski
Corporate Public Relations
Tel. +49-(0)89-5110-247
Fax +49-(0)89-5110-302

Süd-Chemie AG (www.sud-chemie.com) is a publicly quoted (Security Identification Number (WKN): 729 200), independent specialty chemical company headquartered in Munich/ Germany 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 of 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. The Süd-Chemie Group generated sales of €933 million in 2005, almost 80% of these outside Germany. Süd-Chemie Group had some 5,000 employees at 65 sales and production sites worldwide in mid 2006.