Aditya Birla Group completes Columbian Chemicals deal

New Delhi : The Aditya Birla Group today announced the completion of thetransaction relating to its acquisition of the Atlanta based Columbian Chemicals Company,subsequent to having obtained all regulatory approvals in 7 differentjurisdictions. The acquisition ofColumbian Chemicals was made at a price of US $ 875 million. It catapults the Aditya Birla Group to theworld’s No. 1 carbon black producer.

The newly constituted Board of Directors for ColumbianChemicals is chaired by Kumar Mangalam Birla, the Aditya Birla Group, Chairman. Other Directors from the Group, include Mrs.Rajashree Birla, Mr. Rajiv Dube, Dr. Santrupt Misra, D. D. Rathi and Mr. KevinBoyle, CEO, Columbian Chemicals.

Says Birla, “We view the Carbon Black business as asignificant global business in our portfolio. There is a lot to be derived from this coming together of the twoentities. Columbian Chemicals’ excellent R&D capability, multiplespeciality products, the customer connect in North America and South America, coupled with committed teams, will add tothe strength of the Carbon Black business.

The Aditya Birla Group is among the most cost efficientmanufacturers of carbon black. It is aglobal provider of high quality carbon black additives that cater to therequirements of leading tyre and other rubber manufacturers. Its products also service the ink and plasticsegments.