Sale of Oleochemicals

Croda International PLC 08 May 2008 8 May 2008 Croda International Plc Sale of Chicago Oleochemicals Business Croda International Plc ('Croda') announces that it has agreed to sell its oleochemicals business in Chicago, Illinois, USA ('Chicago Oleochemicals' or 'the business') to H.I.G. Capital, LLC ('H.I.G.') for £46.7 million. This disposal is part of Croda's restructuring programme to re-position its oleochemical operations following the acquisition of Uniqema in 2006. Chicago Oleochemicals is a leading North American supplier of fatty acids and glycerine which are used in personal care, household and industrial formulated products. During 2007, the business made an operating profit of £4.6 million on turnover of £87.9 million and had gross assets of £54.7 million at 31 March 2008. Going forward, the business will function as a standalone operation, led by the current local management team. H.I.G. is a leading private equity investment firm with more than $4.5 billion of equity capital under management with offices throughout the USA and Europe. H.I.G. specialises in providing capital to small and medium-sized companies in buyout transactions. The transaction is being effected by way of a sale of assets rather than shares with £38.1 million payable in cash at completion and the balance as a loan note due in 2014 but repayable earlier in certain circumstances. The agreement contains warranties customary in a transaction of this nature and size and is subject to a working capital adjustment at completion. All employees of the business will transfer to the acquiring entity as a result of this transaction. Croda will continue to source some products from the business under normal third party commercial terms. The completion is subject to standard closing conditions, including Hart Scott Rodino anti-trust clearance. The sales proceeds will initially be used to reduce the net debt of the Croda group. The transaction is expected to be marginally earnings dilutive in the year ending 31 December 2008 (see note 1). Dresdner Kleinwort acted as financial adviser and Foley and Lardner LLP acted as legal adviser to Croda on this transaction. For further information, please contact: Sean Christie, Group Finance Director Tel: 01405 860551 Charlie Armitstead, Financial Dynamics Tel: 020 7831 3113 Notes 1. This statement should not be taken to mean that earnings per share (before any one-off costs) of Croda will necessarily be lower than historic earnings per share (before any one-off costs) of Croda and no forecast is intended or implied. 2.Certain statements made in this announcement are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations and, by their nature, are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially from any expected future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking statement. The information does not assume any responsibility or obligation to update publicly or revise any of the forward-looking statements contained herein. 3. This announcement is made by Croda and is the sole responsibility of Croda. Croda is exclusively responsible for the contents of this announcement and neither Dresdner Kleinwort Limited nor any person acting on Croda's behalf are responsible for or shall have any liability for any information, representation or statement relating to Croda contained in this announcement or any information previously published by or on behalf of Croda or otherwise. Dresdner Kleinwort Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, is acting for Croda and for no-one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Croda for providing the protections afforded to customers of Dresdner Kleinwort Limited or for affording advice in relation to the contents of this announcement or any matters referred to herein. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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