Chemtura last week announced price increases on sulfonates, alkylated diphenylamine and high viscosity PAO. Meanwhile, Oxea announced price increases for carboxylic acids and olefin derivatives, along with a fuel surcharge for deliveries in North America driven by skyrocketing fuel prices. Oberhausen, Germany-based Oxea on Thursday announced that effective Aug. 1, or as contracts allow, it would raise list and off-list prices on seven lines of carboxylic acids by 5 cents to 15 cents per pound i...

With a $14 million line of credit in its pocket, Hill Enterprises, which does business as Hill Petroleum, has acquired fellow Colorado lubricant and fuel distributor Cox Oil Co. Arvada, Colo., based Hill, which claims to be the states largest Chevron lubricants distributor, will expand in the northern part of the state with its purchase of Cox Oil. Cox, based in Greeley, also has operations in Fort Morgan and Wiggins. Hill Petroleum’s Troy Hill described the transaction as “a perfec...

Lubrizol will transfer its metalworking additives business from Spartanburg, S.C., to its Wickliffe, Ohio, headquarters in the third quarter of 2009. The Spartanburg area has been a key location for Lubrizols metalworking additives for a decade, following acquisitions of companies and facilities in the region. The move will create a stronger, more collaborative research environment across the industrial additives product line, which includes metalworking, industrial gear oil, grease and hydrauli...

Ashland Inc. will acquire Hercules for $3.3 billion in a transaction expected to close by the end of this year. Hercules provides a variety of specialty chemicals, including biocides, dispersants and surfactants, and synthetic lubricant basestocks. Covington, Ky.-based Ashland would acquire all of Hercules outstanding shares for $18.60 per share in cash and .093 of a share of Ashland common stock for each share of Hercules common stock. The agreements terms require Hercules to pay Ashland a $77...

Dow will acquire Rohm and Haas Co. for $18.8 billion under an agreement announced Thursday. Dow plans to contribute complementary businesses, including biocides, to the existing portfolio of Rohm and Haas, which will retain its Philadelphia headquarters and continue to do business under its own name. Increased purchasing power for raw materials is a key cost savings under the deal. Both companies boards of directors have unanimously approved the transaction, under which Dow will acquire all outs...

Houghton International Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire D.A. Stuart Co., bringing together two key metalworking fluid manufacturers. Both companies are privately held, and terms of the transaction were not disclosed. This acquisition will bring together two complementary organizations that can benefit from shared efficiencies and the integration of best practices, said Houghton International Chief Executive Officer Paul DeVivo. An affiliate of private equity investment firm AEA Investors ...

Shell remained the global market share leader in finished lubricants in 2007, with a 13 percent share, according to consultancy Kline and Co., which estimates the global market at 39.3 million metric tons in 2007, up 1.8 percent from 2006. Kline’s study, “Competitive Intelligence for the Global Lubricants Industry, 2007-2017,” found that Shell edged out its largest competitor, ExxonMobil, which had an 11 percent market share in 2007. Rounding out the top five lubricant marketer...