Rhodia to sell silicone cartridge business to Henkel

By Liz White, ERJ staff

Paris-Rhodia is selling its European-based business making silicone sealants in cartridges to Düsseldorf, Germany-based adhesive and sealant specialist Henkel.

Paris-based Rhodia said the sale "forms part of the divestiture of non-strategic activities being undertaken by the Group to consolidate its business portfolio."

This cartridge production business has 158 employees, based mainly at Leverkusen in Germany and Leicester in the UK. The business had sales of more than Euros 50 million in 2004. The business produces and distributes a wide range of silicone sealants sold in cartridge form for the construction and do-it-yourself markets.

The two groups expect the transaction to be finalised soon, depending on regulatory approvals.

Rhodia said in its 8 Aug announcement that it will continue to develop and make core intermediates as well as bulk silicone sealants and market them in Europe and the rest of the world.