Lubrizol to acquire Merquinsa

Lubrizol will be assuming approximately 100 Merquinsa employees. Once the transaction closes all Merquinsa products will be integrated with Lubrizol, combining the product offerings under the Lubrizol Engineered Polymers business. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2011, subject to customary closing conditions.

"We are excited to be adding Merquinsa's capabilities and products to our Engineered Polymers business. Merquinsa's strong global brand recognition, along with its solid track record of profitable growth broadens our product portfolio, increases our global reach and strengthens our manufacturing capabilities," said Rocco Mango, Lubrizol Vice President and General Manager, Estane Engineered Polymers. "Overall, this acquisition allows us to continue to expand our offerings to our customers worldwide."

"I believe this acquisition will benefit our talented workforce, as well as our customers, with increased investment from Lubrizol in new and enhanced technologies, products and services," stated Jose Luis Ayuso, Merquinsa President. "I am sure our business and our customers will be in good hands." The move ensures that Merquinsa's existing customers will continue to be supplied with the company's products.

Merquinsa’s key brands include: Pearlstick, Pearlthane, Pearlthane Eco, Pearlbond, and Pearlcoat. In 2009 the company introduced one of the first commercial applications of a “Bio-TPU”.

With more than 50 years of industry experience, Lubrizol says it is a leader in thermoplastic elastomers, marketing products under the Estane brand name. In 2009 the company acquired Dow's TPU business (Pellethane, Isoplast). Lubrizol today is owned by billionaire Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. The closing of this acquisition has been announced a few weeks ago on September, the 16^th.