Company News

Acquisitions in the US

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Kuraray says its acquisition supports its strategy to expand its Vinyl Acetate Chemical Chain Business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Through this acquisition, Kuraray will expand its product offering of PVA films into a wider range of industrial applications, thereby enhancing its competitiveness. Kuraray currently supplies "Poval" PVA film for optical-uses including a polarising film, which is an essential component of liquid crystal displays.

Swiss industrial firm Georg Fischer has purchased has purchased Dallas-based Independent Pipe Products (IPP), a provider of large diameter PE pipes and fittings. No purchase price was disclosed in the deal. IPP employs 94 and has annual sales of more than US$50 million. IPP originally focused its business on large diameter PE fittings and expanded its product line to include large PE pipes, to offer a complete package for the water distribution market. Last year, Fischer bought a US PVC pipe maker Harvel Plastics for US$50 million. Fischer has annual sales of about US$3.8 billion.

Nordson will purchase Extrusion Dies Industries (EDI) from private equity firm Betram Capital Management for US$200 million. EDI makes flat and extrusion coating dies precisely applicable to industrial liquids and powder coatings, surface treatment, adhesives and sealants to a range of consumer and industrial products. Nordson, which is traded on the NASDAQ, said the transaction is expected to close during its third quarter. Last year, Nordson bought Value Plastics, an injection moulder of single-use medical fittings based in Colorado.