The Laird Group (GB-London SW1Y 4JU; www.laird-plc.com) has sold its Laird Plastics division (West Palm Beach, Florida / USA; www.lairdplastics.com) to an affiliate of Blackfriars Corporation, a privately-held, US-based company, for USD 65m. The UK-based group will use the proceeds of the sale to expand core businesses and reduce debt. The deal, which will create a new player with an expected 10% of the US shapes market, unites Laird Plastics with Blackfriars´ Port Plastics (Los Angeles, California / USA) and Amari Plastics (London / UK). Combined sales of Laird and Port are around EUR 270m.

Laird Plastics, which employs 500, claims to be the largest independent distributor of semi-finished plastic shapes and parts in North America, with turnover of around USD 210m in 2003 in the glazing, sign and graphics markets. Its product range includes acrylics and polycarbonates, graphics materials, along with commodity and engineering plastics.