Asahi Holdings completes purchase of Johnson Matthey Gold and Silver refineries

Tokyo, Japan- March 6, 2015 – Asahi Holdings is proud to announce on March 5, 2015 that it has finalized the acquisition of the former Johnson Matthey Gold & Silver refining businesses. The acquisition includes refineries located in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA and Brampton, Ontario, Canada as well as investment casting services from its St Catharines facility in Canada. In total, the businesses employ approximately 340 people.

The Salt Lake City, USA and Brampton, Canada refineries will collectively operate as “Asahi Refining.” Johnson Matthey Precision Castings will become Niagara Investment Castings, a division of Asahi Refining Canada Limited.

At purchase Johnson Matthey’s LBMA London Good Delivery status has been transferred to each gold and silver refinery. Asahi Refining is certified as LBMA responsible gold compliant as well as London Good Delivery refiners.

Commenting on the transaction, Mitsuharu Terayama, Chief Executive of Asahi Holdings said: “We are proud and humbled to acquire a business with such a rich history and tradition of quality, precision, and expertise. I am convinced that combining these new facilities with our existing assets will foster global growth and technological innovation well into the future. We also look forward to developing our relationships with our global partners. ”

Asahi Holdings is a Tokyo, Japan based precious metals recycling company (collection, recovery, refinement) founded in 1952. The company has approximately 1,700 employees. Throughout the years it has grown to become a London Good Delivery refiner now operating in 6 countries through its subsidiaries processing gold, silver, and platinum group metals. It also has businesses in the areas of environmental preservation and life and health.

About London Bullion Market Association
The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) is an international trade association, representing the London market for gold and silver bullion which has a global client base. This includes the majority of the gold-holding central banks, private sector investors, mining companies, producers, refiners and fabricators.

The on-going work of the Association covers a number of areas, among them refining standards, trading documentation and the development of good trading practices. The maintenance of the Good Delivery List, including the accreditation of new refiners and the regular retesting of listed refiners, is the most important core activity of the LBMA.