Rohm and Haas Company, Philadelphia, and Chemical Specialties, Inc. (CSI), Princeton, N.J., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rockwood Holdings, Inc., announced that the companies have signed an agreement to form a joint venture to serve the wood-treatment industry. As announced earlier, the new company brings together the wood-biocides business of Rohm and Haas and the wood-protection chemicals business of CSI to provide an extensive range of advanced wood-treatment technologies and services to the global wood-treatment industry. The joint venture plans to commence operations in January. The transaction is subject to government review.