Gimborn Group sold

Süd-Chemie AG has sold its pet business (Gimborn Group) to Gimborn Holding GmbH with effect from 20 June 2006. The 274 employees of the Gimborn Group at its plants in Emmerich and Kelheim and in its foreign distribution companies are being taken over, while cat litter production (SSB) and the Italian operation for distributing private label cat litter to the grocery trade remain in the hands of Süd-Chemie. The new holding company is owned by the Capiton Fund, Berlin, and the Gimborn management, the company has announced today. The new proprietors have agreed a dynamic growth strategy. Above-average growth rates are being generated by the international business, in particular in the Czech Republic and Italy. The proprietors are anticipating sales growth in Germany too in the next few years, and are making funds available to finance the growth strategy.