Rohm and Haas company, USA, wants to acquire full control over Morton International, USA. Morton will thus become a Rohm and Haas subsidiary.
They are both active in the production sector of speciality chemicals, and therefore largely complementary going so far as to overlap.
The European Commission considered that only the dry film photo resists' market was concerned and gave rise to serious doubts regarding its compatibility with the common market. Dry film photo resists are used mainly in the communications equipment sector, and more precisely in the production of Printed Wiring Boards for primary imaging purposes.
To remove these serious doubts Rohm and Haas has undertaken to withdraw from the joint venture, Elga Ronal. That company has exclusive rights to distribute in Europe the dry film photo resists produced by TOK Italia, a company controlled by the major Japanese producer of dry film photo resists.
Any aggregation of market shares will thus be eliminated, and other competitors such as Dupont, TOK or Hitachi will compete with them.
Therefore the European Commission decided to declare the merger compatible with the common market under the EC Merger Regulation.
This article is based and incorporates information provided by the European Commission (Press Releases) and is intended for general information. Specialist advice should be sought before acting on it.
The acquisition of Morton International by Rohm and Haas subject to undertakings approved
