For the very first time, Symalit AG (CH-5600 Lenzburg) which belongs to the Swiss Quadrant Group has been awarded two “lifetime” delivery orders (GMT) for the underbodies of the new Mercedes C class and the new Audi A4. Expressed in terms of the estimated seven-year lifetime, the overall order volume works out at CHF 90m – CHF 50m for DaimlerChrysler and CHF 40m for Audi. Added to this come new natural fibre composite projects for the rapidly- growing automotive interior sector which will be starting up in the second half of 2000.

Symalit increased its sales to CHF 78.2m (71.6m) over the first six months of 2000. Following the company´s external expansion drive last year, with the acquisition of BASF´s GMT business, the first half of the current year was spent “laying the foundation for internal growth in the composites field”. A “significant increase in profits” is expected for 2001 already.

Quadrant Holding AG (Talstr. 70, CH-8001 Zürich) claims to be a “strategy holding company specialised in the acquisition and value-oriented further development of successful medium-sized companies by means of value-based management”. Quadrant has so far acquired four companies in the plastics sector which it has brought together in the Symalit Group. It is the company´s declared aim to acquire or obtain shares in further companies from this sector.

Quadrant is a private equity company quoted on the Zurich stock exchange. Its share price has risen from CHF 80 to around CHF 800 over the past three-and-a-half years.