SSL plans to sell medical division

LONDON (April 1)—SSL International P.L.C. has put its medical division up for sale to create a leaner operation where it will focus solely on its consumer division. The company said March 31 that proceeds from a sale would be put back into the consumer unit, making it more competitive on the global market. The medical division consists of SSL's wound management, Regent Biogel latex synthetic surgical glove and Hibi antiseptic businesses. SSL has a long history in the glove business, manufacturing the Regent brand of surgeons' and dentists' gloves at two plants in Malaysia. Medical products constitute about one-third of SSL's annual $950 million in sales, with the consumer health care unit making up 55 percent and SSL's Marigold unit—including household and industrial gloves—another 8 percent. The future of the latter unit is uncertain. In mid-2002, SSL put the Marigold division on the market, and has continued to review prospects for the business, although no buyer has been found.