Kemira buys majority of american water treatment company Kemiron
Kemira has taken a significant step forward in our water treatment business by expanding the present holdings in the US-based company Kemiron Companies Inc. from 15 % to 60%. The parties have also agreed on the terms, whereby Kemira is obliged to buy the remaining 40 % of shares. Kemiron has annual sales of 90 million USD and 250 employees.
The former majority owner and founder, Mr. Lawrence Hjersted, will remain as a minority shareholder in the company, and will continue as President and CEO of the company.
-"The United States are the world's largest market for water treatment chemicals and positive development for Kemiron is expected to continue with the shift in main growth areas to applications that favour Kemiron's core competences in iron and speciality aluminium coagulants," concludes Lennart Johansson, Senior Vice President, Kemwater.
From the start in 1992, Kemiron Companies Inc. has had considerable success in the water treatment market, and the company now ranks as USA's largest producer and marketer of a complete product range of iron and aluminium coagulants. The company has fourteen, strategically located manufacturing and distribution sites with headquarters in Florida. The primary production units are located in Bartow (FL), Mojave (CA), Fontana (CA), St. Louis (MO), Rowley (Utah), Houston (Texas), Gastonia (NC), Savannah (GA) and Spokane (WA).
Water treatment chemicals are one of Kemira's core growth areas. Kemira already ranks as the world's largest producer and supplier of coagulants for water treatment, with presence in 30 countries. The total turnover of Kemira´s water treatment business was around 180 million euros during 2002. Kemira strengthened its water chemicals business further earlier this year by starting a water chemicals plant in St. Petersburg in Russia and acquiring the water treatment business of Ageco in Italy.
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