Merger creates ‘preeminent' global zinc chemicals supplier

Houston, Texas – New York-based private equity firm Aterian Investment Partners has combined two major zinc suppliers – US Zinc and EverZinc – to create what it describes as “the preeminent global zinc chemistry business.”

The combined company will operate under the EverZinc name, and will be headquartered in Houston, Texas, said Aterian in a 1 June statement.

The company will support high value markets, such as rubber industry as well as personal care, alkaline, batteries and pharmaceuticals sectors.

The combined entity will have 14 facilities located throughout North America, Europe and Asia, and will focus on the sustainable supply of zinc products globally, the statement said.

Aterian acquired US Zinc, which specialises in the production of zinc oxide, fine zinc powder and zinc metal, in 2018.

The company supplies to the US domestic market from four production facilities across Texas and Tennessee.

Established 185 years ago in Liege, Belgium, EverZinc, manufactures speciality zinc materials, including fine zinc powders, zinc oxides, battery zinc powders and Zano-branded ultra-fine zinc oxide.

The company has 10 production sites located in Belgium, Canada, China, The Netherlands, Norway and Malaysia.

The new combined company intends to source a majority of its critical raw materials from third party by-product streams, by converting used zinc material already available in the marketplace.

“Zinc can be recovered without a significant loss in quality, resulting in less need for virgin zinc and the air and water emissions, deforestation, energy consumption and waste that often results from mining and processing virgin zinc,” said the Aterian statement.

The investment firm said it had built “a long-term thesis” around zinc chemistry, starting with its platform investment in US Zinc.

"As one of the most widely available and sustainable metals in the world, zinc is uniquely recyclable and has applications critical to our future,” said Christopher Thomas, co-founder and partner at Aterian.

This investment, he added, expands the vision to lead the industry through technological and sustainable alternatives and solutions.

"This strategic combination brings together two industry pioneers,” said Vincent Dujardin, CEO at EverZinc, who will lead the combined company as president and chief executive officer.

“By combining our comprehensive zinc chemistry platforms, employee base, proven R&D and technology capabilities and specialisations, we will further our leadership,” he added.