The Makroform group (D-64293 Darmstadt; www.makroform.com), a joint venture of Bayer AG (D-51368 Leverkusen; www.bayer.com) and Röhm GmbH (D-64293 Darmstadt; www.roehm.com) passed into the sole ownership of Bayer on 15 July 2003. Bayer already held a majority share of 54.5% in the joint venture, while Degussa subsidiary Röhm´s share was 45.5%. The companies agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The group includes not only Makroform GmbH at the German headquarters but also Makroform N.V. (B-8700 Tielt) and Makroform SpA (I-20156 Milano). With some 300 employees, the group, which produces polycarbonate and polyester (PET) sheet, achieves sales of some EUR 100m overall.

Following its withdrawal from PC sheet, Röhm is intending to consistently focus on its “Plexiglas” (PMMA) activities in future, reports Degussa. With the additional purchase of the group´s parent company, Bayer Polymers (www.bayerpolymers.com) is expanding its market position as one of the world´s leading manufacturers of polycarbonate sheet. Apart from Makroform, Bayer´s global presence in this field is reinforced by Sheffield Plastics (USA), Bayer Guangyi (China), Laserlite (Australia) and South-Korean sheet producer, Bayer-Sewon.