This deal will also change the European polystyrene scene, because a big new player is emerging: the Huntsman Corporation (Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA) will be selling its North American and European styrene and polystyrene activities to Nova Corporation (Headquarters: Calgary, Canada) for USD 920m. In return, Huntsman is acquiring Nova shares with a value of USD 235m, and will thus become the biggest individual shareholder. CEO Jon M. Huntsman justifies this spectacular transaction by saying that the company also sees better long-term prospects for the styrene and polystyrene business in conjunction with Nova.

Nova is also acquiring Huntsman's production facilities for monostyrene, polystyrene and EPS, both in North America and Europe (Carrington, UK and Ribecourt, France). Nova is particularly active in the fields of primary chemicals, polyolefins and styrenics, with 12 production facilities in the USA and Canada. Nova is represented with a number of chemical products in several European countries by Biesterfeld Plastic GmbH (Ferdinandstr. 41, D-20095 Hamburg). At the same time, Biesterfeld is also the exclusive distributor in Germany, Benelux, France, Spain and Poland for Huntsman polystyrene. Managing Director Rainer Huneke told PIE: "These new contacts add products and volumes to our supply programme in several countries, which means we welcome these movements very much indeed; they can also contribute to price stabilisation in the various markets."