Kemira, Helsinki, Finland, reports that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of AkzoNobel paper chemicals business. The value of the transaction is EUR 153 million and it will become cash-effective in the second quarter of 2015. The acquired business is expected to increase revenue by more than EUR 200 million on an annualized basis as of the completion date.

As communicated earlier, six of the AkzoNobel paper chemicals manufacturing sites and approximately 350 employees will be transferred to Kemira. Kemira will also increase the production capacity of its own paper chemical manufacturing sites to realize expected production synergies. The integration period of the transaction is expected to last approximately two years and result in EUR 15 million net synergies on an annualized basis. The production sites to be transferred to Kemira are located in South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Spain, and Italy.

"This acquisition strengthens our market position, especially in the growing APAC region. It also enables substantial efficiency improvements in our global paper chemicals manufacturing network. Most importantly, we gain new competencies and technological capabilities through 350 paper chemical experts and six manufacturing facilities—extending our ability to deliver best in business expertise and services to our customers. I want to warmly welcome all the new employees to Kemira, now the only pulp and paper chemistry provider with a truly global reach," said Jari Rosendal, Kemira's president and CEO.