Laporte plc
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| Industry | Chemicals |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1888 |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Fate | Acquired |
| Successor | Degussa AG |
| Headquarters | Luton, UK |
Key people | Jim Leng (CEO) |
Laporte plc was a leading British chemicals business that operated from 1888 to 2000. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
History
[edit]The Company was founded by Bernard Laporte, a German Chemist, in 1888 as a supplier of peroxide to bleach straw boating hats.[1] It subsequently diversified into other aspects of bleaching and commercial laundry chemicals.[1]
In the 1980s it disposed of its manufacturing operations.[2]
In 1993 it acquired Evode Group plc, suppliers of adhesives and specialties.[3] It went on to buy Aztec Peroxides Inc., a US peroxides business, in 1994[4] and Inspec Group plc, suppliers of specialty chemicals, in 1998.[5]
It sold its major divisions, some 55% of the business by revenue, to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in 2000. These divisions (Pigments and Additives, Formulated Products & Compounds and Computers & Electronics) subsequently became known as Rockwood Holdings Inc.[6]
In December 2000 Degussa SKW, a joint venture between Degussa AG and SKW Trostberg, acquired the remainder of the business.[7] The performance chemicals business was subsequently sold on by Degussa to Cognis.[8]
Operations
[edit]The Company had the following divisions:[9]
- Pigments & Additives - iron oxide pigments for plastics (based in St Louis) and clay based additives for plastics (Southern Clay Inc.)
- Formulated Products & Compounds - PVC and TPE materials for data transmission cables, electrical insulation and closure seals for beverages (Alpha Gary Inc.)
- Computers & Electronics
- Specialty Chemicals - Peroxides (Aztec Peroxides Inc.)
- Rockwood Additives is based in Widnes, UK. Here the 2 products Fulacolor and Laponite are produced.
- Rockwood Additives no longer exists in Widnes, UK. Altana AG acquired the Additives business in October 2013. It is currently operated under the sub division BYK Additives and Instruments.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Degussa-Huels buys Laporte outright The Scotsman, 16 December 2000
- ^ Laporte travels the long hard road from commodities to specialties Chemical Week, August 1993
- ^ Laporte to the rescue Chemistry & Industry, 18 January 1993 [dead link]
- ^ Laporte buys Aztec from Phillips, sells powder coatings Chemical Week, 5 January 1994
- ^ Laporte plans to buy Inspec for $1bn Wall Street Journal, 1998
- ^ Rockwood launched Chemical Market Reporter, December 2000
- ^ Degussa to buy Laporte for £1.4bn Independent, 15 December 2000
- ^ Cognis buys Laporte Performance Chems Chemical Market Reporter, February 2003
- ^ Laporte PLC Sells AlphaGary, Southern Clay Plastics Technology, 1 November 2000
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