Kemira has signed an agreement to acquire the paper chemicals business of Klebstoffwerke Collodin Dr. Schultz & Nauth GmbH, located in Frankfurt, Germany. The acquired paper chemicals business represents sales of about EUR 3.5 million per year, mainly in Germany and France.
The acquisition includes the transfer of manufacturing and application technology for rosin sizes - a significant part of the acquired business - and wet end chemicals to Kemira. The sales personnel from the paper chemicals business will transfer from Collodin to Kemira Chemie GmbH, located in Alzenau, Germany. Production of rosin sizes will be transferred to Kemira Chemie Ges.mbH in Krems, Austria. During a transitional period, Collodin will toll manufacture paper chemicals for Kemira. All former Collodin customers will be served by Kemira Chemie GmbH, Germany.
The acquisition reinforces Kemira's market position in Central Europe as a provider of paper sizes and other specialty chemicals for the paper industry. Paper sizes are used to improve printability and water resistance of paper and board.
Collodin has traditionally been a leading supplier of rosin size for the German paper industry. Paper chemicals represent approximately 20% of the corporation's overall operations. Other operations are mainly concentrated in adhesives, in which Collodin will continue to expand and focus its efforts.
Kemira is a leading global supplier of pulp and paper chemicals, and has designated its pulp and paper chemicals as one of its core businesses and growth areas with a turnover of EUR 600 million. Kemira's total turnover in 2002 was EUR 2.6 billion, and it employs 10.300 people.
Closing of the deal is subject to the approval of the German competition authority.
Further information:
Kemira Chemicals Oy
Michael Strand, Vice President
Tel. +358 10 862 7285, mobile +358 50 69 285
Pulp & Paper Chemicals
Kemira Chemie GmbH
Frank Wegener,
Tel. +49-6188-4490-0, mobile +49 171 5 888 107
Managing Director
Kemira Chemie Ges.mbH
Johannes Fallmann,
Tel. +43-2732-711 557 254, mobile +43-664-100 1705
Managing Director