Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of Huber Silica by Evonik, subject to conditions

On 22 June 2017 the European Commission approved under the EU Merger Regulation Evonik's acquisition of Huber Silica. The decision is conditional on the divestment of some of both companies' activities related to precipitated silica, a chemical used in tyres, toothpaste, defoamers, paints and coatings.

Evonik and Huber Silica are both manufacturers of speciality chemicals, including precipitated silica. This is used to make products such as toothpaste, paper, animal feed, tyres and shoe soles, but also in defoamers (anti-foam agents used in industrial processes), paints and coatings.