AMSTERDAM — AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals finalized an agreement to acquire Brazilian firm Polinox, South America's leading producer of ketone peroxides, essential in the manufacture of polymers. The acquisition will expand the company's footprint in South America and establish it as one of the region's leading producers of curing systems for polyester thermoset resins. The sale is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2018.

"Our business is on a growth trajectory," said Johan Landfors, Executive Committee Member responsible for Polymer Chemistry. "Over the past three years, we have invested more than €180 million to better serve our customers, upgrade technologies, increase capacity and reposition our global manufacturing footprint. The acquisition of Polinox presents a great opportunity to further strengthen our presence in the South American market."

The company will acquire Polinox's brands and trademarks, which include Brasnox^®, Perbenzox^® and TecnoxSuper^®, as well as its customer list and production knowhow. AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals will invest to add capacity in its own site at Itupeva, Brazil, and transfer manufacturing there after the expansion is completed.