•     Capacity expansion in the European market
•     Eco-friendly product with a wide application range
•     Specific growth in one of Evonik’s core businesses

On September 3, 2015, Evonik Industries signed a definitive agreement for acquisition of PeroxyChem Netherlands B.V., Delfzijl, from PeroxyChem Holdings, L.P. Subject to pending approval by the cartel authorities responsible, the business with its site in the Netherlands, the 47 employees, and the customer portfolio will be transferred to Evonik at the closing of the sale. It is envisaged to close the transaction in the last quarter of 2015. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

The business will increase Evonik’s hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) capacity in Europe. The Dutch site supplements the company’s existing production network of three sites in Antwerp (Belgium), Rheinfelden (Germany), and Weissenstein (Austria).

Evonik produces hydrogen peroxide and its derivatives for eco-friendly oxidation and disinfection in a wide range of applications. With an annual global capacity totaling more than 900,000 metric tons produced in twelve production plants, Evonik’s Resource Efficiency Segment is a leading supplier.

With its offer of a range of H2O2 grades and services and its excellent geographical situation, Evonik has close proximity to its customers.

In the application and decomposition of hydrogen peroxide the only products released are oxygen and water; this means that H2O2 is among the most eco-friendly and versatile of chemical products.

Typical application fields include chlorine-free bleaching of pulp and paper and of natural fibers for white textiles. In the areas of medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and foods the product is used for sterilization as well as treatment of aseptic packaging materials. Hydrogen peroxide is also used in eco-friendly treatment of waste gases and wastewater as well as for disinfection purposes. In addition to these classic applications, new markets are continually opening up in chemical synthesis, where, over the last few years, more eco-friendly production processes have been developed that use hydrogen peroxide as oxidant.