Freudenberg Chemical Specialities KG

Long-term commitment to Chinese earthquake victims

Freudenberg Help e.V. builds school for over EUR 270,000

Munich, August 31, 2009 - The Freudenberg Group has officially opened today in the presence of the German Ambassador in China, Dr. Michael Schäfer, and the General Consul in Chengdu, Hans Mondorf, and high-ranking local officials, the new primary school in Haijin village, near the city of Jiangyou, in time for the beginning of the school year. The German family-owned company rebuilt the village school that had been completely destroyed by the horrific earthquake in the Sichuan region on May 12, 2008. Alongside immediate financial assistance, Freudenberg launched this long-term aid project as a measure of help and solidarity for the affected people. It is one of the company's largest aid projects outside of Germany.

To finance the project, the company established shortly after the catastrophe the charity Freudenberg Help e.V. The members of the charity co-ordinated the project und made the funding for the building of the school available. The funds were largely made up of donations from Freudenberg and its employees. Chinese Group companies also donated tangible goods and provided personnel services.

"We are committed to embracing social responsibility in all countries and communities in which we do business. We have long-standing business ties with China. One of our offices is located in Chengdu, only 200 km away from the school. That is why we felt a strong sense of responsibility to provide long-term support for this region that has suffered such pain and distress from the catastrophic earthquake," Hanno D. Wentzler, President & CEO of Freudenberg Chemical Specialities and Freudenberg Regional Representative for China explained at today's opening ceremony. "We are proud to give the children of the Haijin village the prospect for a bright future."

The new school carries Freudenberg's name in Chinese and is called Haijin Ke De Bao Primary School. In order to prevent another such disaster, Freudenberg placed great importance on making the school earthquake proof. The foundations were reinforced with 86 tons of steel, allowing the school to withstand earthquakes measuring up to 9 on the Richter scale. The 2-storey school building totalling about 1,000m² can accommodate up to 300 pupils. Additional facilities include a canteen of over 120m², a playground, a sports ground and a surrounding wall. While the construction works were taking place last winter, children were educated in temporary buildings. As an emergency measure, employees of a Freudenberg company had donated warm winter clothes in December 2008 to enable them to attend school in the unheated temporary buildings.

Freudenberg is striving for a long-term partnership with the school. Employees have voluntarily initiated a sustainable support program that includes teacher training, provision of school supplies, provision of books for a library, and education support for poor children.

The school opening ceremony was also attended by the school's children and their parents, the teachers, media, the Freudenberg project team and employees of the Group in China. The construction of the school was completed in only six months and is among the first reconstructed schools from foreign donors.

About Freudenberg in China

Freudenberg has held business ties with customers and partners in China for over 100 years. The Group has a workforce of about 3,800 employees at 45 locations. Freudenberg generated sales of almost EUR 360 million in 2008. In the past eight years alone, the Group had increased investment by over EUR 158 million in production plants and distribution.

About Freudenberg

Freudenberg is a Germany-based family company offering its customers technically challenging product solutions and services. Freudenberg has acquired a reputation as a technology specialist for seals and vibration control technology, holds a leading position in the field of automotive interior filters, and also supplies backings for automotive carpeting, engine compartment insulation and auto headliners. Lubricants and release agents are used in the automotive industry and many other applications. A further important sector for Freudenberg is the textile and clothing industry, where Freudenberg Nonwovens keep garments in good shape, protect buildings through roofing membranes, are fitted in power station filter systems as well as in factories. Some Freudenberg products are consumer products. The best-known are household products, sold worldwide under the Vileda brand name. With approx. 170 production and sales locations in 52 countries and its business partnerships, the company is present in all of the world's major markets. Consolidated annual sales of the Freudenberg Group exceed EUR 5 billion and the company employs around 33,000 people worldwide.


Hanno D. Wentzler (left), President & CEO of Freudenberg Chemical Specialities, and Dr. Michael Schäfer (right), German Ambassador in China, celebrate the opening of the Haijin Ke De Bao Primary School together with the children

Press Contacts:

Dongyan Mao
Freudenberg Management (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Corporate Communications
Phone +86 21 50366800
Fax +86 21 50366802
Email: Dongyan.mao@freudenberg.com.cn

Lynda Coward
Freudenberg Chemical Specialities KG
Corporate Communications
Phone +49 89 7876 - 90 18 71
Fax + 49 89 7878 - 90 18 71
Email: lynda.coward@fcs-munich.com