10.10.2008

IMERYS Performance Minerals North America Announces Acquisition of Kings Mountain Minerals Inc. And Suzorite Mining Inc.

Atlanta, GA, October 10, 2008 - Imerys announced today that it acquired Kings Mountain Minerals Inc. and Suzorite Mining Inc. from Zemex Minerals Group Inc.  These companies have two plant sites totaling 100 employees, one located in Kings Mountain, North Carolina that mines and produces muscovite mica, and the second located in Boucherville, Quebec that mines and produces phlogopite mica.  The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“This acquisition is well aligned with the company’s global growth strategy to have a leadership position in high performance minerals,” said Damien Caby, Vice President and General Manager of Performance Minerals North America.  “The addition of these specialty mica products offers Imerys a strong complement to our current calcium carbonate, kaolin, mica, and feldspathic product lines that serve our strategic growth markets in the plastics and coatings industries.  Acquiring the muscovite and phlogopite mica businesses not only reaffirms our commitment to grow in the plastics and coatings market, but will also enhance our ability to leverage multiple minerals in the areas of new product and application development.  This acquisition will enable us to better serve our customers, not only in North America, but globally by offering customers a broader array of formulating options for their products.” 

Caby said that Imerys expects a smooth transition of ownership for these companies with no operation, supply or other interruptions for the existing mica customers. 

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