Georgia Gulf Will Be Known as Axiall Corporation

Following Georgia Gulf Corporation's pending merger with PPG, the company will be known as Axiall Corporation, Georgia Gulf said Monday. 

"The new and distinctive brand represents a clear break from the legacy names of the two businesses, and gives us the flexibility to enter new markets, make future acquisitions, and diversify our portfolio without the need to rebrand our organization," Paul Carrico, Georgia Gulf president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. 

The merger between Georgia Gulf and PPG's commodity chemicals business was announced in July. The terms of the transaction called for PPG to form a new company by separating its commodity chemicals business through a spinoff, and then merging that business with Georgia Gulf. The transaction is valued by the companies at $2.1 billion. 

Georgia Gulf spokesman Alan Chapple said Monday that the companies were aiming to complete the merger by the end of January, but there were still a few details that needed to be resolved, including the swapping of stock shares. 

Georgia Gulf is an integrated North American manufacturer of two chemical lines, chlorovinyls and aromatics, and manufactures vinyl-based building and home improvement products. PPG's commodity chemicals business produces chlorine, caustic soda and related chemicals for use in applications such as chemical manufacturing, pulp and paper production, water treatment, plastics production and agricultural products. 

The company will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticket symbol AXLL. 

Pittsburgh-based PPG will continue to operate with a focus on its other businesses, including paints and coatings, glass and fiberglass, and specialty materials like silicas. The company operates in more than 60 countries around the world.