PQ Group has completed the sale of its Performance Materials business to a private equity firm The Jordan Company for $650 million.

“With the sale of Performance Materials at an attractive valuation, we take a significant step in reshaping the PQ portfolio toward a higher-margin, higher-growth-potential business,” said Belgacem Chariag, PQ’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are also pleased to expand our capital allocation with a special dividend, and we look forward to continuing to execute our strategic transformation in 2021, unlocking greater value for shareholders.”

The company expects to use after tax cash proceeds from the sale of its Performance Materials business to reduce its debt by approximately $465 million. In addition, the company’s Board of Directors has declared a special cash dividend of $250 million, or $1.80 per share, payable on December 29, 2020 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 21, 2020.

Goldman Sachs & Co., LLC and Harris Williams LLC are serving as financial advisors and Ropes & Gray LLP is serving as legal counsel for PQ. Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal counsel and Barclays Capital, Inc. is serving as financial advisor for TJC.