Stan Chem International Limited purchases toiletries and cosmetics business;
Amies International advised William Ransom & Son plc on the transaction.

London Stock Exchange - Regulatory News Service - 1 July 2004

WILLIAM RANSOM & SON PLC SELLS ITS TOILETRIES & COSMETICS AND AGRICULTURAL EXTRACTS BUSINESSES

Divestment allows focus on higher growth botanicals for the pharmaceuticals and food and drinks industries

William Ransom & Son plc is pleased to announce the sale of its agricultural and toiletries and cosmetics extracts businesses. The divestment is part of the streamlining of Ransom's botanical extracts business associated with its site move. It will allow Ransom to focus its expertise at its new botanicals manufacturing site on a higher growth range of plant extracts for the pharmaceuticals and food and drinks industries.

The buyer is Inovia International, a division of Stan Chem International Limited, who are paying £235,000 for the businesses and certain plant and machinery.

Timothy Dye said, 'The sale of these smaller product ranges represents an important step in the development of a botanical extraction business which is focused and growing and which can play a key role in helping us achieve our objective of becoming the UK's leading natural product based consumer healthcare business.'