12/20/2006 - Süd-Chemie and CSP Technologies reach agreement in patent dispute

Süd-Chemie Inc., Louisville/USA, in which Süd-Chemie AG, Munich/Germany holds an indirect 63.95% interest, has reached a settlement agreement to end its patent dispute with CSP Technologies, Inc., Auburn/USA, a subsidiary of CV Holdings, New York/USA.

On 4 August 2006, the United States District Court Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division, ruled that Süd-Chemie Inc. had infringed two CSP patents relating to a desiccant entrained polymer product.

Under the settlement agreement, Süd-Chemie pays a one-off sum of 8 million US-dollars to CSP and agrees to the entry of an injunction that prohibits further infringement of the two patents involving that product. In return, CSP agrees to dismiss all US litigation involving Süd-Chemie Inc., including litigation in the Middle District of Alabama against other Süd-Chemie companies.

The settlement ends multiple litigation matters and enables Süd-Chemie and its affiliates to avoid substantial US litigation costs.

Munich, 20 December 2006

Enquiries to:

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

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.