Bochum, October 13, 2005 – GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft has agreed to
acquire STERIS GmbH, a subsidiary of U.S. based STERIS Corporation. The
transfer of STERIS GmbH to GEA Group, which is still subject to approval by the
antitrust authorities, has been scheduled for November 2005. STERIS GmbH
registered in Hürth near Cologne, Germany, is one of the leading manufacturers
of freeze dryers for pharmaceutical products. Annual sales of the corporation
which employs some 160 persons total approximately 40 million U.S. dollars.
"The acquisition of STERIS GmbH is another valuable addition to our product
portfolio for the growing pharmaceutical sector. Over the next few years, the
demand for freeze dryers will increase substantially, mainly driven by the
growth in pharmaceutical products produced via the biotech route," said GEA
Group’s Executive Board member Peter Schenk. The pharmaceutical freeze drying
business of STERIS GmbH will strengthen the Process Engineering Division in the
Process Engineering Segment.
The pharmaceutical industry is an important market of the GEA Group
companies. As global market leaders, they offer their pharmaceutical customers
individual equipment and complete systems for the production of solid dosage
forms. Products include systems for dispensing (dosing and blending),
granulation and drying and tablet compression.