DSM Acquires Soluol

Netherlands-based Royal DSM N.V. has acquired the U.S.-based company Soluol, a developer, producer and marketer of high performance urethane resins which are used in a wide range of applications, with annual sales of $20 million. Both parties have agreed not to disclose financial details.
The acquisition of Soluol enhances DSM’s specialty-resins presence in North America and adds new technology as well as a state-of-the-art production facility in Rhode Island. The acquired company will be grouped under the DSM NeoResins+ business unit, part of the DSM Resins business group.
“DSM Resins is a strategically very important business in DSM’s accelerated transformation into a leading life sciences and materials sciences company,” said Nico Gerardu, member of DSM’s managing board and responsible for the performance materials cluster. “The acquisition of Soluol and previously announced investments underline DSM’s belief in the strong growth potential of the resins business and reinforces our geographic presence in the largest coatings market in the world, the U.S. Soluol’s strong market position, outstanding product portfolio and sharp customer focus are all great fits for DSM NeoResins+.”

Wacker to acquire Air
products’ stake in jv
Wacker Chemie AG has signed an agreement to acquire full ownership of Air Products Polymers (APP) and Wacker Polymer Systems (WPS), its two joint ventures with Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Wacker expects that the acquisition will provide strategic advantages to its global construction-polymers business. The closing of the transaction is expected to be completed in first quarter 2008. As part of the agreement, Wacker retains the vinyl acetate ethylene (VAE) activities of the joint venture, while Air Products will receive full ownership in the Elkton, MD and Piedmont, SC production facilities and their related businesses, plus cash considerations of $265 million.

D.B. Becker named
Distributor of the year
The D.B. Becker Co., Inc. a Northeast specialty chemical distributor located in Clinton, NJ, has been recognized as Distributor of the Year for 2007 by EPS/CCA Corp. Engineered Polymer Solutions (EPS) is a specialty manufacturer of waterborne acrylic, styrenated acrylic, water-dispersible acrylics, PVA and alkyds for the coatings industry, with a focus on low-VOC formulations. Color Corporation of America (CCA) manufactures color dispersions for architectural and industrial markets and offers a full line of universal colorants for water or solvent and low-VOC universal colorants.