AkzoNobel Pulp and Performance Chemicals (formerly Eka Chemicals) today announced that it has agreed to divest its water treatment business, Purate.
The prospective buyer is US based Ecolab Inc. The parties have signed an agreement under which Ecolab will begin operating the business upon completion of the proposed transaction. This is anticipated to occur early June, 2013, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions and receipt of required regulatory clearance.
Ecolab is a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services. The Purate technology and service will become an offering of Nalco, an Ecolab company, and its Water and Process Services (WPS) division.
“We are very pleased that Purate will have an owner who can provide global opportunities for the development of this business, says Byron Smith, Director Strategy and Transformation, AkzoNobel Pulp and Performance Chemicals.
The divestment is in line with AkzoNobel Pulp and Performance Chemicals strategy launched in early 2012.The company will continue to focus on global leadership positions in pulp bleaching, paper chemicals, colloidal silica and expandable microspheres.
Purate is a technology for small-scale production of chlorine dioxide. Customers are found in several market segments for the treatment of drinking water, raw water, wastewater, process water and cooling water.
