Osaka Gas Chemicals to Acquire Jacobi Carbons

Osaka Gas Chemicals Co. Ltd. announced it has entered into an agreement with AddSorb Holding AB to acquire all the shares of Jacobi Carbons AB, a manufacturer and distributor of coconut shell activated carbon headquartered in Kalmar, Sweden. The transaction is expected to close in January 2014.

Osaka Gas Chemicals holds a position in the activated carbon market in Japan through its subsidiary Japan EnviroChemicals Ltd. (JEC), which manufactures and distributes activated carbons made from coconut shells and wood sawdust. Jacobi is a global coconut shell activated carbon manufacturer with a product portfolio that caters to a global blue-chip customer base across a number of end-market applications.

As a result of the acquisition, Osaka Gas Chemicals will become the third largest manufacturer of activated carbons globally and the largest manufacturer of high value-added activated carbon made from coconut shells.

“The combination of Jacobi and Osaka Gas Chemicals will greatly benefit our global customer base through an expanded product offering, enhanced R&D capabilities and additional end-market applications,” said Anders Skeini, CEO of Jacobi, “I look forward to Jacobi’s next chapter of development in cooperation with Osaka Gas Chemicals.”

Nomura Intl. Plc. acted as financial adviser to AddSorb Holding AB and SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. acted as financial adviser to Osaka Gas Chemicals.

Source: Jacobi Carbons