VIENNA—Semperit A.G. has delayed a decision to separate its medical business in order to focus on gloves supply security in Austria, the group has told ERJ.
Semperit disclosed in January plans to divest its Sempermed gloves making unit, as part of a strategy to focus on the industrial segment.
"Due to the (coronavirus) crisis, Semperit, as an Austrian company with an Austrian majority shareholder, has set new priorities," corporate spokeswoman Monika Riedel said in a June 29 statement.
This, Reidel added, includes the initial stage of focusing on the security of supply of medical gloves to the country.
"Semperit is fulfilling its responsibility… with (the supply of) its medical gloves in order to make the greatest possible contribution to combating the (coronavirus) crisis," she noted.
The statement came in response to press reports suggesting Semperit was in the final stages of selling its Malaysia-based Latexx production unit.
Reidel declined to comment on the reported sale.
With two gloves production facilities in Wimpassing, Austria, and Kamunting in Malaysia, Sempermed registered sales of $329 million and earnings of $6.2 million in 2019.
In addition, the unit has a packaging production plant in Sopron, Hungary, and a gloves mold manufacturing site in Nilai, Malaysia.