Rockwood Pigments Completes Purchase of Johnson Matthey Pigments, Dispersions Business

PRINCETON, NJ - Rockwood Specialties Group Inc.'s Rockwood Pigments (UK) Ltd. subsidiary completed the acquisition of the Pigments and Dispersions business of Johnson Matthey plc for approximately $50 million. The acquired business is a supplier of transparent iron oxide pigments and dispersions, color concentrates and complex inorganic color pigments used in coatings, plastics, building materials and printing ink, and had sales of approximately $70 million in 2003.

The acquisition includes manufacturing facilities in Kidsgrove and Sudbury, UK, and Braeside, Australia.

Rockwood's Pigments Division, based in Beltsville, MD, is a major global supplier of synthetic iron oxide pigments used in the coatings, plastics, construction, and specialties markets.