Cologne/Paris, January 15, 2021 – Specialty chemicals company LANXESS is expanding its position as one of the world's leading manufacturers of biocides and antimicrobials by acquiring French company INTACE SAS. The Paris-based biocide company is a manufacturer of specialty fungicides for the packaging industry.

LANXESS and the seller have signed an agreement to this effect on January 14, 2021. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. LANXESS expects the transaction to be completed in the first quarter of 2021.

“We are actively participating in the market consolidation of the consumer protection sector. With the acquisition of INTACE, we are strengthening our biocide technology platform for packaging and labels in the consumer goods industry. We are also following a trend: plastics are more and more being replaced by paper in packaging,” said Nicolas Gallacier, head of Marketing Industrial Preservation & Coatings at LANXESS’ Material Protection Products business unit. 

In 2020, INTACE generated sales in the mid-single-digit million euro range. Its products are used in particular in paper, paperboard, soap packaging, labels and bank notes. “We expect to integrate the new product portfolio within a short period of time. INTACE's strong customer network can soon benefit from LANXESS’ global footprint and regulatory expertise,” said Oliver Kretschik, Vice President of the Biocides business line at LANXESS’ Material Protection Products business unit. 

LANXESS’ material protection business

The LANXESS Material Protection Products business unit employs around 660 employees and has production sites in Krefeld-Uerdingen and Dormagen (Germany), Sudbury (Great Britain), Pittsburgh and Memphis (USA), Jarinu (Brazil), Jhagadia (India), Changzhou (China) and Singapore. 

Products from this business unit are used in a huge variety of applications worldwide. With its broad range of active antimicrobial ingredients and preservatives, the business unit provides customer-specific solutions for various branches of industry such as the paints and coatings, disinfection and wood protection industries as well as the building sector and beverage industry. Material Protection Products also provides a comprehensive technical service and regulatory support as well as project-specific research and development.