Crompton Corporation and Great Lakes Chemical Corporation Announce Merger to Create Major New Specialty Chemicals Company
Crompton Corporation and Great Lakes Chemical Corporation announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement for an all-stock merger transaction, which will create the third-largest publicly traded U.S. specialty chemicals company. The new company will have combined pro forma 2004 revenues of more than $4.1 billion and a market capitalization of nearly $3.2 billion. It will hold leading positions in high-value specialty chemical niche businesses including plastics additives, petroleum additives, flame retardants and pool chemicals. Additionally, the combined company will maintain strong positions in castable urethanes and crop protection chemicals.
The new company will be owned 51 percent by Crompton shareholders and 49 percent by Great Lakes shareholders on a fully diluted basis. Robert L. Wood, currently chairman, president and CEO of Crompton, will serve in those capacities for the combined company, which will be headquartered in Middlebury, Connecticut. In addition to Robert L. Wood, the board of directors will have five directors from each side, for a total of eleven directors.
The transaction, which is expected to close by mid-year, is subject to regulatory approvals, approval by shareholders of both companies and other customary conditions.
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