Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry has acquired the industrial specialties business of Crompton Corporation, including operations in the U.S., Europe and Asia, for $95 million. The industrial specialties business has sales of $165 million, most of which were generated in the agro surfactants segment in North America. Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry sales in 2001 amounted to $631 million. 
Subject to regulatory approval, the move will add production facilities in Houston and Fort Worth, TX in the U.S., as well as in Singapore.
The deal also includes R&D and technical service personnel located in Dublin, OH as well as in Singapore and Geneva, Switzerland. In addition, industrial specialties has sales and service personnel in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Taiwan and the UK.