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Evonik buys Kemira N.A. peroxide business, Maitland site

Evonik Industries has purchased the hydrogen peroxide business of Kemira Chemicals Canada Inc., including the production plant in Maitland, Ont., and the customer portfolio. The agreement also covers employees at the site.

Evonik Industries has purchased the hydrogen peroxide business of Kemira Chemicals Canada Inc., including the production plant in Maitland, Ont., and the customer portfolio. The agreement also covers employees at the site.

This makes Evonik one of the market leaders for hydrogen peroxide in North America. With the acquisition, the company will increase its H₂O₂ capacity in North America by 44,000 tonnes to more than 200,000 tonnes per year. Evonik already produces H₂O₂ at Gibbons, Alta., and Mobile, Ala.

“In taking over the Maitland production business, we’re moving a step forward in our global growth strategy for hydrogen peroxide,” said Dr. Dahai Yu, a member of Evonik’s Executive Board. The output from Maitland will supply mainly the North American pulp and paper industry.

For Kemira, exiting the North American market for hydrogen peroxide is a strategic move. “Hydrogen peroxide is in the core of Kemira’s global business but we are adapting our offerings regionally,” states Petri Helsky, head of Kemira’s paper segment. “In hydrogen peroxide our strengths are in Europe and South America. Exiting Maitland frees resources to further develop our paper business in North America in other applications, such as paper wet-end, pulp process, and water quality and quantity management.”

The transaction is expected to close at the end of November, 2011.