DuPont Protection Technologies (DuPont) and JACOB HOLM & SØNNER HOLDING A/S (Jacob Holm) have announced the companies have signed a definitive agreement for Jacob Holm to acquire the DuPont Sontara business. The sale is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2014, pending customary regulatory approvals, a joint press release stated.

Sontara is a nonwovens business that produces products used in a variety of medical and wipes applications. Jacob Holm is a global provider of spunlaced nonwoven fabrics.  

“We are grateful to the current and past employees of Sontara for their contribution to DuPont over the last 40 years and we are pleased to see the business well-positioned for success in the future as part of Jacob Holm, a world-class organization dedicated to the nonwovens industry,” said Marc Doyle, president, DuPont Protection Technologies.

“The combination of Jacob Holm and Sontara complements two strong players and creates a new industry innovation leader for spunlaced nonwoven fabrics," Martin Mikkelsen, CEO of the Jacob Holm Group. "The broader range of technology know-how results in higher innovation capabilities in product development and offers promising business opportunities to the benefit of our customers and our employees. We very much look forward to working with our new colleagues and partners who will undoubtedly contribute to the successful development of our group.”

At closing, Jacob Holm will acquire Sontara assets at DuPont sites in Asturias, Spain; Old Hickory, Tennesse.; and approximately 240 employees worldwide, primarily in Spain and the United States.

Jacob Holm has production facilities for its spunlaced nonwovens in France and the U.S. and is headquartered in Switzerland. The company’s products serve customers in the home care, hygiene and industrial markets.

DuPont Protection Technologies is a provider of technologies and products that protect people, the environment and critical assets worldwide.