THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BUSINESSWEEK

Clean coal technology company ADA-ES Inc. will pay Norit Americas Inc., a maker of activated carbon, more than $40.5 million to settle a trade secret dispute.

Norit, based in Marshall, Texas, claims ADA stole its protected information and used it to construct a manufacturing facility in Louisiana. An arbitration panel found that ADA and two former Norit employees liable for theft of trade secrets and breach of contract.

Under the terms of the settlement announced Wednesday, ADA will pay Norit $33 million immediately, followed by $7.5 million over the next three years. ADA will also make payments for a part of the royalties on all carbon sales from the facility.