Eastman Exercises Option To Purchase Assets Of Terra Industries

Kingsport, TN - Eastman Chemical Company and Terra Industries Inc. announced recently that Eastman has exercised its option to purchase Terra's Beaumont, Texas assets, including methanol and ammonia production facilities. The two companies anticipate closing the sale on or before Jan. 1, 2009. Terms of the sale agreement were not disclosed.

Eastman will incorporate the assets into a previously announced $1.6 billion industrial gasification project it is developing in Beaumont. Mark Costa, senior vice president of Corporate Strategy, said Eastman will be the developer, operator, co-investor and a customer for that project. "Exercising this option brings Eastman one step closer to construction of a new gasification facility," Costa said. "We continue to meet our targets and remain on schedule."

Terra President and CEO Michael Bennett said, "We're pleased with this opportunity to divest these assets in a move that is consistent with our desire to focus on our core nitrogen business."

SOURCE: Eastman Chemical Company