SANTIAGO, CHILE -Masisa S.A. has purchased a pair of particleboard plants, financed by a $100 million capital increase.

The particleboard plants, acquired by Masisa Mexico from Grupo Kuo, were priced at $54.2 million, plus working capital. The plants have a total annual capacity of 460,000 cubic meters. Other assets included in the deal are melamine lines, impregnation and printing lines, a 24,000-ton capacity Arclin resin plant, laminated lines, land, related brands, and all assets that Grupo Kuo operates through its affiliate, Rexcel located in Lerma, Zitacuaro and Chihuahua, in Mexico.

The Mexico particleboard plants will represent 18% of Masisa's total board-making capacity.

Masisa's announcement, follows the blockbuster acquisitions of Uniboard's mega MDF plant in Moncure,NC; Flakeboard's mills throughout North America, and the sale last week of Uniboard Canada.