German speciality chemical company Atlanta has closed the deal to buy the clay additives business of US firm Rockwood for US$635 million. Late last month, Rockwood also announced that it had agreed to sell five other non-strategic assets, including its titanium dioxide pigment operations, to Huntsman.

The clay-based additives business develops and manufactures a range of speciality rheology modifiers and additives. These products are used in a wide variety of applications to modify viscosity, thickness and flow characteristics, and keep solids in suspension. End products in which these additives are used include industrial and architectural coatings, oil and gas drilling fluids, consumer and household care products, and inks, paper and composites. It had net sales of US$191.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Headquartered in Wesel, Atlanta has sales of more than EUR1.7 billion. It develops and produces high-quality, innovative products in the speciality chemicals business with the matching specialty products for coating manufacturers, paint and plastics processors, the printing and cosmetic industries, and the electrical and electronics industry. It has 42 production facilities, over 50 service and research laboratories and about 5,360 employees worldwide.

Rockwood has a worldwide employee base of approximately 7,100 people and annual net sales of approximately US$3 billion in 2012 (after adjustment for the sale of Advanced Ceramics business which closed on August 31, 2013). Rockwood focuses on global niche businesses in the speciality chemicals, pigments and additives markets.