Degussa Sells Laporte’s Zaltbommel Location

12-07-2001: Degussa AG of Dusseldorf, Germany, has divested its Zaltbommel/ Netherlands location by selling its stake in Laporte Performance Chemicals B.V. to SACHEM Inc., USA. Silence has been agreed on the purchase price. The divestment of this former Laporte location was one of the requirements made by the European Commission in connection with Degussa’s acquisition of the British fine chemicals manufacturer in March this year.

At this location, Degussa produced starch modification reagents and generated sales of EUR35 million in fiscal 2000 with a workforce of 80 employees.

SACHEM, Inc., which is based in Texas, was founded in 1950, and produces high-purity chemicals at four locations altogether in Texas and Japan. It is a leading supplier of quaternary ammonium salts (quats), for example for the electronics and pharmaceutical industries as well as for the catalyst and polymer markets. The aim of SACHEM’s strategy is to consolidate the market position for such highly pure, precision-based products still further. It is with this in mind that the company intends to enlarge Zaltbommel as the European platform for its activities and broaden the range of products. SACHEM intends to continue employment of all the staff at the Zaltbommel location.