OKLAHOMA CITY — A German subsidiary of Kerr-McGee Chemical LLC has acquired Bayer AG’s 20% stake in Kerr-McGee’s titanium dioxide (TiO₂) pigment plants in Uerdingen, Germany, and Antwerp, Belgium, for 25 million euros, or approximately $22 million (U.S.)

Kerr-McGee acquired 80% of the Uerdingen and Antwerp pigment facilities in 1998, with an option to acquire the remaining 20% from Bayer. The two plants have an annual production capacity of approximately 130,000 metric tons.

Luke R. Corbett, Kerr-McGee chairman and CEO, said the acquisition of Bayer’s stake in the TiO₂ facilities reflects Kerr-McGee’s strategy to “grow this core business.” He said the company is seeking to become the world’s number-two TiO₂ producer worldwide through incremental expansions and acquisitions. Kerr-McGee, currently the number-three TiO₂ producer, last year acquired Kemira’s TiO₂ operations in Savannah, GA, and Botlek, The Netherlands.