Clariant Acquires Swedish De-icing Specialist Aerochem AB

Muttenz, January 16, 2015 - Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, has announced today that its Business Unit Industrial & Consumer Specialties (BU ICS) has completed the acquisition of the de-icing specialist Aerochem AB, a privately-owned company based in Stockholm, Sweden. Centrally located within the Nordic region Aerochem has a leading market position in supplying de-icing fluids to the aviation and railway industries in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The company reported average sales of CHF 20 Mio at accretive profitability for Clariant. Financial details of the acquisition are not being disclosed.

Since 2008, Aerochem has been Clariant’s exclusive partner for selling aircraft de-icing fluids (ADF) to customers in the Nordic market, amongst them the airports of Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen. The company offers its customers a total service concept from manufacturing to on-time deliveries.

Clariant’s BU ICS has a leading position in the aviation industry in Europe and North America serving airports via airlines, ground handling companies and airport operators responsible for aircraft and runway de-icing operations.

“The acquisition is in line with our growth and sustainability strategy”, said Hariolf Kottmann, CEO of Clariant. “Aerochem offers access to the attractive de-icing markets in the Nordics and provides an excellent platform for our activities in recycling of aircraft de-icing fluids in Europe.”

Michael Willome, Head of BU ICS, said: “This acquisition puts our aviation business in a position to move one step forward in the value chain in the Nordics and to enhance our position in this sector with direct market access to our local customers.”