ICI captures CelActiv catalysts
ICI has bolstered its catalysts division by buying CelActiv, part of Celanese Industrial Chemicals, for an undisclosed sum. The deal includes manufacturing facilities which are also associated with Hoecat, another former Celanese catalysts business which ICI bought in late 1999.
CelActiv specialises in designing and manufacturing catalysts for amines, oxo alcohols and agrochemical production, while Hoecat focuses on supplying the oleochemicals and edible oil markets. Both businesses were part of Hoechst until the company's transformation into Aventis. They are based at Oberhausen, Germany, where they share facilities, and have annual turnover of around DM27m (£9m).
According to Synetix chief executive Bob Coxon, the deal will help ICI to capture a leading position in catalysis. 'There are clear synergies in combining the different catalytic technologies, and it brings us ever closer our aim of creating one of the world's leading catalyst companies,' he comments.