FUCHS PETROLUB AG, Mannheim, one of the world’s leading lubricant manufacturers, is progressing the integration of the activities in its European home market, with a crucial role earmarked for FUCHS EUROPE SCHMIERSTOFFE in Mannheim, which until the end of last year operated as FUCHS DEA SCHMIERSTOFFE.

The exit of DEA has meanwhile been approved by the German antitrust authorities and officially terminated. For its business in Europe, FUCHS PETROLUB is thus once again basing its strategy on three wholly-owned business units: FUCHS EUROPE for Western Europe outside Germany, FUCHS EUROPE SCHMIERSTOFFE for the German operations, and the Central and Eastern Europe Division.

In the current year, this pan-European region anticipates sales of about Euro 630m, accounting for 60 % of FUCHS PETROLUB’s consolidated worldwide sales.

This region employs around 1,960 people, approximately 48 % of the group’s total payroll.

To upgrade interactive coordination of the activities in this pan-European home market, and to open up fresh synergies, a new management structure has been created for FUCHS EUROPE SCHMIERSTOFFE, reporting to Stefan Fuchs on the Executive Board.

Part of this new management structure is the appointment of Dr. Lutz Lindemann as Board Chairman of FUCHS EUROPE SCHMIERSTOFFE and intensified focus on the opportunities of the pan-European market by his three colleagues Lothar Bertelmann, Heinrich Freidel and Hans-Ulrich Schafus.

Mannheim, 1 February 2002

FUCHS PETROLUB AG
Public Relations
Friesenheimer Str. 17
D-68169 Mannheim
Tel.: +49 621 3802– 04