Frankfurt, Germany -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/11/2006 --Downer & Company, an international investment banking firm specializing in mid-market cross-border acquisition and divestiture advisory services, is pleased to announce the sale of H. von Gimborn GmbH to the German private equity firm capiton AG. The transaction is valued at EUR 28 million and closed on 20 June 2006.

H. von Gimborn GmbH (Gimborn), based in Emmerich, Germany and founded in 1855 as a maker of nutritional supplements, is a provider of premium pet care and pet food products in Western Europe. Gimborn manufacturers and distributes over 400 different branded cat, dog and small animal products throughout Europe. Some of its best-known brands include “ShinyCat” and “Gimpet Super Premium” (cat food), “Shiny Dog” (dog food), “Biokat’s” and “Eurokat’s” (cat litter), “Käse Rollis” (cat snacks) and “PetCenter” (retail outlets in Prague). capiton AG is a Berlin-based private equity group that invests in middle-market companies in Austria, Germany and Switzerland with an emphasis on the consumer goods, capital goods, services and health care sectors.

Süd-Chemie is a leading chemicals producers focused on catalysts, adsorbents and additives. The divestiture of Gimborn is a result of Süd-Chemie’s announced decision to concentrate on core activities including catalysts, food and feed additives, foundry products and performance packaging, as well as energy and environmental technology. Downer & Company Director Frank Merkel remarked, “This transaction allows Süd-Chemie to conclude its program of divesting non-core businesses while giving Gimborn management greater latitude to develop itself as a focused producer & marketer of branded consumer products for pets.”

This is the third transaction involving Downer & Company’s Frankfurt office in 2006 and the second transaction the firm has orchestrated for Süd-Chemie in 18 months. Downer & Company previously assisted Süd-Chemie on the sale of its U.S. clay adsorbents facility in Georgia. The deal transaction team consisted of Ashley Rountree (Managing Director, Europe), Mr. Merkel, Raymond Morin (Associate), Gregory Fanikos (Associate), and Kim Chi Phung (Analyst).

About Downer & Company
For thirty years, Downer & Company, LLC, has gained distinction as a leading middle-market M&A firm focused on the execution of acquisition and divestiture mandates for international and domestic corporations and private equity firms. Downer & Company is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and has offices in Paris, Dublin, Frankfurt and Sydney. Downer & Company received an award for transacting the "International Cross-Border Deal of 2004" and was recognized as the top Investment Banking Firm of 2003 by The Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor. Downer & Company's corporate headquarters are located at 60 State Street, Boston, MA 02109. For further information, visit www.downer.com.