Bayer AG announced a name change of Bayer Polymers L.L.C. to Bayer MaterialScience L.L.C., an action taken in response to a Bayer Group reorganization announced in November 2003.
Akzo Nobel Coatings' Industrial Finishes business announced the formal opening of two new multi-purpose coatings-manufacturing sites in China, at locations near Beijing and Shanghai.
Elementis plc completed the acquisition of Sasol Servo B.V. (Servo), a Netherlands-based specialty chemical manufacturer and a supplier of coatings additives.
The Valspar Corp. and QUIKRETE, a major producer of concrete products, announced a strategic alliance to manufacture and market a line of premium concrete coatings that the companies said would make a market debut in early 2005.
The fortunes of major coatings manufacturers continued to improve in the second quarter, building on the momentum of late 2003 and the first quarter of 2004.
Rockwood Specialties Group Inc. subsidiary Rockwood Pigments (UK) Ltd. announced a definitive agreement to acquire the Pigments and Dispersions business of Johnson Matthey plc for approximately $50 million.
Akzo Nobel's Decorative Coatings business announced an agreement to acquire Timpe & Mock, reported to be the second-largest architectural-paint wholesaler in Germany.
INSL-x Products Corp. announced an agreement to acquire Wattyl Ltd.'s Coronado Paint Co. Inc. and Lenmar Inc. coatings units, as Australia-based Wattyl moved to sell its remaining U.S. coatings businesses.
Akzo Nobel announced the introduction of a waterborne exterior wood coating billed as a "pioneering" advance in coatings technology due to a solids content of approximately 65% and "nearly zero" VOC content.