Dorf Ketal Acquires Specialty Catalysts Business From DuPont Chemicals and Fluoroproducts

MUMBAI, India, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Dorf Ketal Chemicals (India) Pvt Ltd, a leading specialty chemicals company headquartered in Mumbai, India, with facilities in Stafford, Texas, has acquired the Specialty Catalysts Business of DuPont Chemicals and Fluoroproducts through a new LLC company in the USA with immediate effect. This acquisition includes Tyzor® titanates & zirconates and Avitex® hydrocarbon surfactants and antistatic agents used in a broad range of specialty markets and applications. Terms of the agreement are confidential and not being disclosed.

Dorf Ketal earlier completed the acquisition of Intec Polymers in May 2009, and with this current acquisition from DuPont Chemicals and Fluoroproducts will become global leaders in this market segment. These products find applications across several industries spanning across Oil & Gas, Paints & Coatings, Printing Inks, Industrial Sealants, Corrosion Protection & Emission Reduction. This acquisition allows Dorf Ketal to integrate the Specialty Catalyst business into the Company's existing portfolio of products they currently sell into similar uses.

As a part of the deal, Dorf Ketal acquires assets associated with the Specialty Catalysts Business including sales, marketing and customer service.

To assist with an orderly customer transition, a business transition team has been formed. DuPont will continue to manufacture and supply Specialty Catalyst products to Dorf Ketal for approximately one year under service and supply agreements. During this time, Dorf Ketal will source and supply products made by DuPont Chemicals and Fluoroproducts  while building a new plant. DuPont also is assisting Dorf Ketal with the technology transfer and start-up of new facilities.

The transition will be implemented in stages while ensuring business continuity for all customers. This transaction underscores Dorf Ketal's commitment to grow and deliver world-class products, services and enhanced value to customers on a consistent basis. The integration will be seamless, providing customers the ability to leverage Dorf Ketal's world-class products, service and technology.

Dorf Ketal is one of the most rapidly growing global specialty chemical companies in recent times. In less than two decades, Dorf Ketal has emerged as a leading supplier of specialty chemicals for downstream hydrocarbon & relevant ancillary industries. Dorf Ketal has a strong focus on research and development helping achieve manufacturing excellence. In recent years, Dorf Ketal has successfully acquired and integrated four businesses including UOP's Refining Chemicals and Plastics Additives business in 2001 and 2003 respectively,  ExxonMobil's component lubricant additive business in 2007 and Intec Polymers' Organometallic  Titanates in 2009 into their product offerings.

Commenting on the acquisition, Mr. Subodh Menon, Founder/Director- Business and Operations, Dorf Ketal said, "The acquisition will consolidate our position as a global leader in the business of specialty catalysts. We are embarking on an ambitious project and a world class manufacturing facility to cater to these newer product lines is being planned at a new plant site in India. Dorf Ketal is focused on growth and the group aims to achieve a turnover exceeding $500 million in the next few years, " commented Mr. Menon.

Ernst & Young Pvt Ltd was the M & A advisor to Dorf Ketal on the transaction while SBI Caps acted as the financial advisors.

About Dorf Ketal:

Dorf Ketal, headquartered in Mumbai, is a global player in process chemicals, and additives for refineries, petrochemicals, fuels, plastics, lubricants and oilfield industries. Dorf Ketal has subsidiaries in the USA, Brazil, the Netherlands and Representative offices in China and Bahrain. In a relatively brief span of less than 15 years, Dorf Ketal has emerged as the largest Indian additives manufacturer of process chemicals and additives in the niche product segment of hydrocarbons used in refineries, petrochemical plants, plastics additives and lube additives. Within the large industry of specialty chemicals, the customized solutions and specialized services that the company offers have helped it secure a unique position in serving the specialized refinery and petrochemical segment. The company operates a global distribution network with supply points in all major regions. Dorf Ketal's State-of-the-Art Manufacturing Plant and Technology Center are located about 60 kilometers away from Mumbai. The company is certified to ISO-9001, ISO-14001 and ISO-18001 Standards by Det Norske Veritas (DNV). Dorf Ketal Chemicals has been a recipient of several awards for significant accomplishments in their business.

SOURCE Dorf Ketal