Solvay to acquire Ausimont. (Your Business in Brief).

Solvay S.A. of Belgium is buying Ausimont, the Italian-based fluorinated specialties group, from Montedison of Italy and a minority investor. This acquisition would make Solvay the number-two producer worldwide of fluoroproducts, including fluoropolymers and fluoroelastomers. Solvay currently produces Solef PVDF resins, while Ausimont makes Hylar PVDF, Algoflon PTFE, Hyflon MFA and PFA, Halar ECTFE, and Tecnoflon fluoroelastomers. Completion of the acquisition is anticipated by mid-year. Solvay says it is likely to finance the purchase partly by selling its share of the new BP Solvay Polyethylene HDPE joint ventures in the U.S. and Europe.