For an undisclosed sum, Swiss-based chemicals major Ineos Enterprises (Rolle; www.ineos.com) has purchased Sasol Solvents Germany GmbH, the European solvent business from fellow chemicals producer Sasol (Johannesburg / South Africa; www.sasol.com). With the transaction, which still needs approval from the respective antitrust authorities, Ineos becomes the owner of the German production sites in Herne und Moers with a total of 520 employees.

The site in Herne, in Germany's Ruhr region, produces ethanol and isopropyl alcohol as well as catalysts for both products. Not long ago – in November – local media reported Sasol was planning to cease production of the products during the second quarter in 2014 and cut 130 jobs. The Moers production site, on the Lower Rhine, manufactures oxygenated solvents isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and secondary butyl alcohol (SBA), which is upgraded on-site into methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). The plant also produces plasticisers, synthetic resins and fine chemicals such as alkyl chlorides and aluminium organic compounds.

The Swiss company says it will continue to operate the maleic anhydride plant at the Moers site for the ongoing joint venture between Sasol and Huntsman, Sasol Huntsman (Moers). The feedstock for unsaturated polyester resins is used primarily in fibreglass-reinforced resins for construction, automotive and marine products.