News

LUDWIGSHAFEN, GERMANY – M&A activitie continues in the chemical industry. BASF SE the world's largest chemical company has agreed to buy Ciba Holding AG for 6.1 billion Swiss francs ($5.5 billion). BASF will pay 50 francs in cash for each Ciba share, 32% over the September 12th closing price.

The merger of BASF and Ciba improves the BASF position in the plastics and coatings industries. Ciba supplies many well known photo initiators that are used in the formulation of dry films, liquid photoimagable resists and solder mask materials used in PCB and IC fabrication.
BERLIN– According to ZVEI, the electronics industry in Germany is expected to see a 4% growth in sales for 2008, as well as a further 2% jump in 2009. The reason for the improvement is due to the increase in turnover being twice as strong as the overall economic growth in Germany.

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