Sale of Sasib S.p.A.

Molins PLC 31 July 2006 31 July 2006 MOLINS PLC SALE OF SASIB S.P.A. The Board of Molins PLC, the international specialist engineering group, announced on 24 May 2006 its intention to either sell or close its Italian subsidiary, Sasib S.p.A., and that discussions with potential acquirers were taking place. The Board is now pleased to announce that closure of Sasib has been avoided and that on Friday 28 July 2006 the share capital of Sasib was transferred, for a nominal consideration, to Paritel S.p.A., an Italian engineering business. The total cash cost of closure was previously estimated at £8m, of which £6m would have been incurred in 2006. The result of selling Sasib on the terms agreed, rather than closure, is that the cash cost to Molins is approximately £4m lower than the estimated costs of closure. Sasib designs, manufactures and sells specialist machinery, predominantly packing machines for the tobacco industry. Sasib has been sold because the sales being generated by the business do not support the current cost base in Italy. Operating losses at Sasib in 2005 were £0.6m and £1.4m for the period from 1 January to 24 May 2006. As at 24 May 2006 Sasib had gross assets of £9.7m (£12.3m at 31 December 2005) and after deducting bank debt, creditors and other liabilities, had net book assets of £3.0m. Subsequent to 24 May Molins has injected £4.6m of cash into Sasib, partly to meet the losses incurred prior to 24 May. The total amount to be written off on the sale of Sasib is £8.5m including transaction expenses and Sasib-related inventories held elsewhere in the Molins Group. Enquiries: Molins PLC Tel: 01908 219000 Peter Byrom, Chairman David Cowen, Group Finance Director Issued by: Citigate Dewe Rogerson Tel: 020 7638 9571 Margaret George This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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