A Montreal specialty metals producer has acquired a Belgium specialty metals company, expanding its global reach as a supplier to the electronics industry.

5N Plus Inc. will purchase the shares of MCP for a cash consideration of €105.8 (CDN $141.8 million), a promissory note to vendors of €61.9 million (CDN $82.9 million) and approximately 11.4 million common shares of the company to be issued to the vendors.

“The acquisition of MCP will allow 5N Plus to significantly expand its product offerings and to establish a worldwide manufacturing and distribution platform,” says Jacques L’Ecuyer, president and CEO of 5N Plus. “The strategic transaction fits perfectly with our vision of becoming a global leader in the production of specialty metals for the clean technology market.”

5N Plus produces specialty metals, compounds and wafers. It uses proprietary technologies to produce metals such as tellurium (used to produce solar cells and thermoelectric devices), cadmium (used in solar applications and nuclear radiation detectors) and other related compounds.

L’Ecuyer says the acquisition will position 5N Plus as the leading producer and distributor of bismuth, a market the company says is poised for future growth because the non-toxic material is being increasingly used in a variety of alloys and compounds.

5N Plus owns four material subsidiaries, 5N PV GmbH in Germany, Firebird Technologies Inc. in Trail, BC, and 5N Plus Corp. and Sylarus Technologies in Wisconsin and Utah respectively.

5N Plus