INEOS Acquiring Cristal’s North American Titanium Dioxide Business from Tronox for $700 Million

INEOS Enterprises announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire the North American business of National Titanium Dioxide Company Limited (Cristal) from Tronox Limited for $700 million.
 
Cristal’s North American business includes two-plants located at the Ashtabula, OH complex. The deal forms the proposed remedy package submitted to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by Tronox ahead of its proposed acquisition of Cristal’s global titanium dioxide business.
 
The proposed sale of the North American business to INEOS has received support from Cristal and Tronox’s North American customers and will make INEOS the second largest producer of this product in the country. The wider transaction and remedy proposal is subject to clearance by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
 
“This is a great opportunity for INEOS to enter the pigments market and become the second largest producer of titanium dioxide in the key North American market,” said Jim Ratcliffe, INEOS chairman.
 
“This is a great opportunity for INEOS to enter the pigments market, by acquiring a competitive business, with excellent people and assets,” added Ashley Reed, CEO of INEOS Enterprises.
 
Titanium dioxide is a white pigment found in a wide range of applications from paints and varnishes as well as paper and plastics. It is the most widely used white pigment because of its brightness. Pigment applications include printing inks, fibers, rubber, cosmetic products, glass and ceramics. The global titanium dioxide market is highly competitive, with players competing based on price, quality or product, technical service and the availability of high-performance pigments.