SKW-BASF, the specialty chemicals group headquartered in Trostberg, Germany has recently announced two major aquisitions which further consolidate SKW-BASF position as the global leaders in the chemical construction industry . In the USA, SKW-BASF has reached an agreement to acquire the business activities of Harris Specialty Chemicals, Inc. Jacksonville/FL (HSC). The closing of the transaction, which will be subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities in the USA and in Europe, is expected to take place in March 1999.
Further south in Brazil the company has signed an agreement to acquire Holdercim, the Brazillian operation of Holderbank, the world's largest cement producers. This transaction is expected to be closed by the end of February.
Harris Specialty Chemicals is one of the leading construction chemicals groups in the USA. With a total workforce of 900 employees the company achieved 1998 sales of approximately $200 million, two-thirds in the USA and in Latin America, one-third in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Main sales contributors were the business sectors repair/sealants,exterior insulation finishing systems (EIFS) and industrial floors. HSC markets it products under the well-known brands Thoro, Senergy, Watson Bowman, Hydrozo and Ucrete. In 1998, HSC acquired the principal interests of Fosroc Inc. whilst Master Builders, Inc., an American affiliate of the SKW-BASF group acquired Preco, the specialist precast products division of Fosroc Inc.
The construction chemicals business of Holdercim includes admixtures and powdere products. The combined business of BASF and Holdercim will substantially strengthen the companies position in the Brazilian market and improve entry into the distributor sales channels.
The SKW-BASF Construction Chemicals Division with its 80 companies in 55 countries is the world's market leader in Construction Chemicals. The division, with a global work-force of 8,500 employees, achieved 1998 sales of DM 2.5 billion ($1.4 billion) and was the main contribution to SKW Group's sales of DM 5.3 billion ($3.0 billion).
One of SKW's strategic goals is to extend the global No.1 position of its Construction Chemicals Division. Within mature markets industrialcountries) the focus of attention is on repair, renovation and maintenance. Within growing markets (emerging countries) emphasis is put on new construction - infrastructure, residential and industrial construction. Harris Specialty Chemicals' business' are widely complementary to those of SKW-BASF and will ideally support this goal
SKW-BASF are represented regionally by Sharjah based BASF Middle East