Dec. 4, 2007 - SCA said that it has sold the Softis brand, together with the associated patents and tissue machines, to the Italian tissue company Sofidel.

The selling price was not disclosed.

The sale is subject to anti-trust approval from the European Commission and the German Federal Cartel Office, SCA said.

The deal includes a license to use the Zewa brand for a period of three years. In addition, SCA has will maintain a perpetual license to continue selling Softis in countries outside Germany and Austria.

Over the next few months, Sofidel will transfer the Softis tissue machines to its mills. Until then, SCA will continue to manufacture Softis under a supply arrangement.

In March of this year SCA announced that it would buy Procter and Gamble's tissue operations in Europe and closed the EUR 512 million deal on October 1, including the acquisition of the hanky brand Tempo. Pursuant to this acquisition, the European Commission required SCA to commit to sell its own hanky brand Softis in Germany and Austria to remove anti trust concerns in this segment.

SOURCE: SCA