Proposed Closure of a PVC Production Unit on Arkema`s Balan Site
COLOMBES, France--(Business Wire)-- Regulatory News: Arkema (Paris:AKE) has presented to its Balan facility`s trade union representatives a plan to shut-down a 30,000 ton PVC production unit on the site in order to strengthen the competitiveness of its Balan plant (France). The Balan facility has currently three PVC production units with a 325,000 ton overall capacity. The oldest and smallest of these three units, with a 30,000 ton/year annual capacity, will be closed down, while the two remaining plants will be modernized in order to further improve their productivity. The implementation of this plan, in the 2nd quarter 2010, would entail the loss of 9 positions. Each employee whose position would be made redundant would be offered another position on the Balan site. A global chemical company and France`s leading chemicals producer, Arkema consists of three businesses: Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals, and Performance Products. Arkema reported sales of 5.6 billion euros in 2008. Arkema has 15,000 employees in over 40 countries and six research centers located in France, the United States and Japan. With internationally recognized brands, Arkema holds leadership positions in its principal markets. ARKEMA 420, rue d`Etienne d`Orves - F-92705 COLOMBES Cedex Standard : +33 (0)1 49 00 80 80 - Fax : +33 (0)1 49 00 83 96 Société anonyme au capital de 604 549 730 euros 445 074 685 RCS Nanterre www.arkema.com Arkema Investor Relations: Sophie Fouillat Tel. : +33 1 49 00 86 37 E-mail : sophie.fouillat@arkema.com or Jérôme Raphanaud Tel : +33 1 49 00 72 07 E-mail : jerome.raphanaud@arkema.com or Press Relations: Sybille Chaix Tel. : +33 1 49 00 70 30 E-mail : sybille.chaix@arkema.com Copyright Business Wire 2009
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