ALTANA has completed the acquisition of the rheology business of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. With the acquisition ALTANA's sales are expected to reach approximatley €1.9 billion per year.
In the context of the transaction ALTANA acquired the rheology business of Roockwood's Performance Additives segment for a purchase price of $635 million. The acquired business segment is one of the world's leading suppliers of rheology additives that optimize the flow characteristics of various materials. Rheology additives are used, among other things, in coatings, construction materials, and personal care products. They can, for example, ensure that coatings have the right viscosity and that they can be applied without forming droplets or bubbles.
As a result of the acquisition the number of the ALTANA Group's employees increased by 350 to 5,700. In addition to the administration department in Austin (Texas), four new production sites have been taken over: Gonzales (Texas), Louisville (Kentucky), Widnes (UK), and Moosburg (Germany). ALTANA will integrate the acquired rheology business into its BYK Additives & Instruments division.