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| Industry | Chemicals |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1888 |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Fate | Acquired |
| Successor | Degussa AG |
| Headquarters | Luton, UK |
Key people | Jim Leng (CEO) |
Laporte plc was a leading British chemicals business that operated from 1888 to 2000. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
The company was founded by Bernard Laporte, a German Chemist, in 1888 as a supplier of peroxide to bleach straw boating hats. [1] It subsequently diversified into other aspects of bleaching and commercial laundry chemicals. [1]
In the 1980s it disposed of its manufacturing operations. [2]
In 1993 it acquired Evode Group plc, suppliers of adhesives and specialties. [3] It went on to buy Aztec Peroxides Inc., a US peroxides business, in 1994 [4] and Inspec Group plc, suppliers of specialty chemicals, in 1998. [5]
It sold its major divisions, some 55% of the business by revenue, to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in 2000. These divisions (Pigments and Additives, Formulated Products & Compounds and Computers & Electronics) subsequently became known as Rockwood Holdings Inc. [6]
In December 2000 Degussa SKW, a joint venture between Degussa AG and SKW Trostberg, acquired the remainder of the business. [7] The performance chemicals business was subsequently sold on by Degussa to Cognis. [8]
The company had the following divisions: [9]
Altana AG acquired the Additives business in October 2013. It is currently operated under the sub division BYK Additives & Instruments.
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