Larox plans to buy Turku Ceramics Oy


Larox Corporation Company announcement 9.5.2008 at 10 am

Larox plans to buy Turku Ceramics Oy
Larox Corporation and the owners of Turku Ceramics Oy have signed a letter of
intent by which the entire capital stock of Turku Ceramics Oy will be
transferred to the ownership of Larox Corporation. 

The parties concerned aim at realizing the transaction by 30 June 2008. The
seller and the buyer have agreed not to publish the acquisition price. 

Turku Ceramics Oy production facilities are located in Turku and the company is
the only manufacturer of technical ceramics in Finland. The company
concentrates mainly on subcontract manufacturing of highly tailored parts and
components designed by the customers. 

Durable high tech ceramics are used more and more to replace conventional
materials in challenging conditions of machine and chemical process industries.
In 2007 net sales of Turku Ceramics Oy totaled EUR 3.4 million and the number
of personnel was 26. 

”Most of Turku Ceramics' production is sold to domestic machine manufacturers,
e.g. to Larox, but the end users are often abroad. The company also exports
directly to the Nordic countries, Central Europe and the Far East”, says Mr.
Jerry Kulmala, Managing director of Turku Ceramics Oy. 

”Larox uses ceramic plates supplied by Turku Ceramics as filter elements in
disc filters. Their markets especially in the mining industry are growing
strongly. Through this acquisition we believe to be able to answer better the
challenges of the growth”, says Mr. Topi Karppanen, President & CEO of Larox
Corporation. 

Larox Corporation

Topi Karppanen 
President & CEO 

For further information: 
Topi Karppanen
Tel.+358 (0) 20 7687210
Fax. +358(0) 20 7687277 
topi.karppanen@larox.com 

Jerry Kulmala
Tel. +358 2 275 6400
Fax. +358 2 275 6420
jerry.kulmala@turkuceramics.fi


Larox develops, designs and manufactures industrial filters and is a leading
technology company in its field. Larox is a full service solution provider in
filtration for separating solids from liquids. It supplies comprehensive
aftermarket services throughout the lifespan of the Larox solution. Companies
world-wide in mining and metallurgy, chemical processing and related industries
benefit from the Larox technologies. Larox operates in over 40 countries and
has over 460 employees. Larox Group is headquartered in Lappeenranta, Finland
where the Group also has production facilities. Net sales in 2007 totaled 158.3
million euros, of which more than 95 % were generated by exports and the
company's foreign operations.