SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland -- Tyco International Ltd. has reached an agreement to acquire privately held Chemguard Inc., a provider of firefighting foam concentrates and equipment, foam systems, services, and specialty chemicals. Chemguard will be integrated into Tyco's Fire Protection Products business unit.

Founded in 1984 and based in Mansfield, TX, Chemguard is a fully integrated provider of fire suppression products and specialty chemicals. In fire suppression, Chemguard produces an extensive line of foam concentrates as well as firefighting hardware and engineered foam systems for industrial, marine, petrochemical/energy, warehousing, forestry and airport-hangar applications. The company's specialty chemicals portfolio includes fluorosurfactant and hydrocarbon products for firefighting and other industrial applications.

The Chemguard business consists of specialty chemical formulation, dry chemical blending and packaging, foam concentrate blending and packaging, hardware manufacturing, and product testing and quality assurance. Through its acquisition of Williams Fire & Hazard Control Inc. in 2010, Chemguard expanded its offerings to include high-flow firefighting equipment and services, training, and safety consulting.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2011.