Plans for the future of Hydro Polymers (Oslo / Norway; www.hydropolymers.com) will not be affected by the merger of parent company Hydro´s oil and gas activities with Statoil (Stavanger / Norway; www.statoil.com), Hydro Polymers CEO Helge Holen has confirmed. In December 2006, Hydro said the polymers business was performing strongly and it was exploring the possibility of new ownership, either through a flotation or acquisition. Hydro will continue to focus on aluminium and plans to list or divest the polymers business, Holen said.

The Norwegian group initially sought to sell the polymers subsidiary – one of Europe´s largest PVC producers – in 2004. However, it later decided against a sale and focused instead on streamlining operations and upgrading its position upstream in chlorine.