As November 2012 drew to a close, US specialty chemicals manufacturer W. R. Grace (Columbia, Maryland; www.grace.com) announced that it had completed its acquisition of Chinese fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts producer Noblestar Catalysts (Qingdao, Shandong; www.noblestar.com.cn). Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. The purchase further strengthens the China business of the US company, which claims to be the world’s leading FCC catalysts producer. W. R. Grace said it would make additional investments in Qingdao, in particular with a view towards environmental, safety and manufacturing upgrades.

Commenting on the acquisition, Noblestar Catalysts CEO Chao Cui said, “We have been happy and proud to be a business partner of Grace’s refining technologies business for years and we are excited to continue a business relationship in the future.” The Chinese company’s 150 employees posted sales of RMB 680m (about USD 108m) in 2011.

Grace established its first foothold in China in 1986 and today operates five production sites, three sales offices and two technical service centres in the country, including a regional headquarters in Shanghai. The group has a total workforce of 6,000 spread across 40 different countries. Net sales amounted to USD 3.2 bn last year.