PHILADELPHIA - Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc., the world's largest producer of thermoset resins, has signed a definitive agreement to purchase the global wax compounds business of Rohm and Haas Company. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Closing is subject to governmental approvals.

Under the agreement, Hexion will purchase Rohm and Haas Company's wax compounds technology and product lines, manufacturing equipment and other business assets. The products include wax compounds for sheet-fed and heat-set printing processes, as well as solvent-based compounds and water-based wax emulsions, with applications in the printing inks and coatings industries.

Rohm and Haas Company currently produces these materials in Semoy, France. Hexion Specialty Chemicals will transfer production to its manufacturing locations.