The French industrial-minerals company IMETAL has acquired English China Clays for $1.2 billion.

ROSWELL, GA — The French industrial-minerals company IMETAL has acquired English China Clays plc, the parent company of ECC International Inc., for $1.2 billion. With the acquisition, IMETAL has formed a new Pigments & Additives Group that includes ECC, Dry Branch Kaolin and Georgia Marble Co. of North America and Rio Capim Caulim of South America. The group is headed by Dennis Rediker, formerly CEO of ECC.

ECC is a producer of kaolin and calcium carbonate, with operations in the United States, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Georgia Marble also supplies calcium carbonate, and Dry Branch and Rio Capim Caulim are producers of kaolin clays.