SINGAPORE/LEVERKUSEN, Germany - German specialty chemicals group LANXESS has acquired Singapore-based biocides producer PCTS Specialty Chemicals Pte. Ltd.

The acquisition makes LANXESS a leading supplier of biocides for coatings in the Asia-Pacific region. LANXESS will gain access to a portfolio of biocides and will benefit from PCTS’ product expertise and know-how in coatings. PCTS specializes in biocides for environmentally friendly water-based paints that meet stringent health,  safety and environmental standards.

PCTS employs about 20 people at its production and laboratory facilities close to the LANXESS Singapore headquarters. The company was majority owned by NIPSEA Technologies Pte. Ltd. PCTS will be integrated into the LANXESS business unit Material Protection Products (MPP), which belongs to the company’s Performance Chemicals segment. The PCTS facility will also become the new Asia-Pacific headquarters of MPP.

The business unit is already one of the world’s leading suppliers of biocides. It acquired the U.S.-based biocide company Verichem Inc. and the material protection activities of Switzerland’s Syngenta in 2011.