Dow Chemical Co. Acquires Rohm & Haas for $18.8 Billion

Dow Chemical Corp. and Rohm and Haas have signed a definitive agreement whereby Dow will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Rohm and Haas common stock for $78 per share in a transaction valued at $18.8 billion.

The deal would not only create the largest specialty chemical company in the U.S. but would also consolidate further the market for water treatment chemicals.

Recently, Ashland, Inc. signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hercules, Inc., a major player in the water treatment chemicals business. Nalco Co. remains the leader in the sector, recording revenues totaling $3.912 billion in 2007, an increase of 8.6% over 2006.

Source: Environmental Business Journal