The polyurethanes business unit of Dow Chemical (Midland, Michigan / USA; www.dow.com) has agreed to buy the Hyperlast (www.hyperlast.com) PU elastomer systems business of British Vita (Manchester / UK; www.britishvita.com), subject to regulatory approval. Based in Birch Vale, Derbyshire, Hyperlast was acquired by British Vita for GBP 34.6m (EUR 50.7m) in 1998. It specialises in supplying PU products for use in extreme climatic conditions. The acquisition includes British Vita´s Autothane automotive suspension components business, which is a licensee of Hyperlast based in Wrexham, North Wales. The deal does not, however, include Hyperlast North America. Financial terms were not disclosed.