Re. Tristel Italia srl

6 Feb 2008 13:19

Tristel PLC06 February 2008 TRISTEL plc Establishment of Tristel Italia srl Tristel plc ("Tristel"), the AIM listed provider of infection and contaminationcontrol products, announces that it has taken a 20% interest in Tristel Italiasrl ("TI"), a company incorporated in Italy and established to commercialiseTristel's product portfolio in the country. TI was incorporated on 9 October2007. Prior to Tristel becoming a shareholder TI was wholly-owned by Mr MichaelDonaldson. Mr Donaldson, aged 51, was Country Manager, Italy and Greece, for Fuji HuntPhotographic Chemicals until June 2006. During the past eighteen months MrDonaldson has been assessing the potential of the Italian market for Tristel. Heis resident in Milan. Tristel is providing a loan facility to TI to fund its early stage developmentand has an option to increase its shareholding in TI from 20% to 51%. PaulSwinney, Chief Executive of Tristel, assumes the position of President of TI andMichael Donaldson its Managing Director. Commenting on Tristel's involvement in TI and the Italian market, Paul Swinneyexplains: "The development of our export business is proceeding well. In all the exportmarkets which we are currently penetrating we are working with distributors.Whilst this model is highly effective its limitations can be exposed as theTristel product portfolio continues to expand. We address specific niches withinthe hospital market and it can be difficult to identify a distributor capable ofexploiting them all successfully. "Michael has been known to us for many years and is well qualified to build theTristel business in Italy. The Italian hospital market has many similarities tothe United Kingdom's. We are very encouraged to have already secured TI's firstcustomers in the Ear, Nose and Throat market, an area we dominate in our homemarket. "This investment for international expansion represents a departure from ourpresent export market development model. However, the investment is modest andwe believe that a direct presence in Italy will accelerate significantly ourpenetration of this major European market." Contacts: Tristel plc Paul Swinney, Chief Executive Tel: 01638 721 500 Daniel Stewart & Company PlcOliver Rigby Tel: 020 7776 6550 Parkgreen Communications Ltd Tel: 020 7479 7933Paul McManus Mob: 07980 541 893 paul.mcmanus@parkgreenmedia.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange