SSL to close UK technical centre, Spanish condom plant

London -- SSL International plc has announced plans to close its Durex condom factory at Rubi, near Barcelona, Spain, during Q1 of 2008.

The company said in a 27 Sept statement that it plans to transfer production to its existing facilities in Thailand and India as part of a “rationalisation of manufacturing capacity.”

According to the statement, SSL has begun negotiations with its employees, a process that is expected to take around three months.

The closure is subject to authorisation from the Spanish Employment Authorities.

The company will also close its technical centre in Cambridge, UK and transfer activities to its manufacturing facilities in Peterlee, Thailand and India.

The proposed transfers will not happen before March 2008 said the company. It believes that by co-locating technical service activities at its principal manufacturing sites it will be able to market its products and innovations at a faster speed.

SSL anticipates that as the result of these plans a one off cost will be incurred in the current financial year. The closures are expected to improve operating margins from the

year to March 2009 onwards.

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Press release from SSL