LONDON - Elementis plc has sold Harcros Chemicals, the company's U.S. chemical-distribution business, for approximately ¿23.0 million, or $32.4 million, to HCI Acquisitions Inc., a newly launched company that includes a partial stake held by the existing senior management of Harcros.

Harcros, based in Kansas City, KS, distributes chemicals to the coatings and other industries, primarily in the Midwest. The business had sales of approximately $226 million in 2000. Elementis said the sale reflects the company's strategy to focus on its core specialty-chemicals business.