Evonik acquires full control of Degussa Engineered Carbons

Essen, Germany - Evonik Industries (the new name of the company previously known as Degussa AG) has bought out its joint venture partner in North America and now has full control of Degussa Engineered Carbons, known as DEC.

In 2002 Evonik and ECI formed DEC, a 50-50 joint venture to combine their carbon black businesses in North America. DEC is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey/US, and produces and markets furnace grade carbon blacks for the rubber and pigment industries in North America and thermal blacks worldwide.

DEC operates five plants in the United States, with combined capacity for around 300 kt/year of carbon black. The plants (with capacities) are:

• Belpre, Ohio 30kt/year (One line closed from 60 kt in Aug 2006)
• Borger, Texas 122kt/year (Includes 20kt thermal.)
• Aransas Pass, Texas 55 kt/year
• Orange, Texas 80 kt/year
• Ivanhoe, Louisiana 118 kt/year

“Carbon black is one of our strategic growth areas that we are systematically expanding. This transaction underlines Evonik's commitment in the North American market and will add significant value to our Group,” said Dr. Klaus Engel, Member of the Management Board of Evonik and responsible for the Chemicals business area. Thomas Hermann, head of Evonik's Advanced Fillers & Pigments Business Unit, commented: “The acquisition is an important step to consolidate our position in one of our key strategic markets, and will help us to serve our global key accounts even better.”

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Press release from Evonik

Website of DEC