Ineos to Take Ashta Chemicals from Bigshire Mexico
Ineos Enterprises has agreed to acquire Ashta Chemicals from Bigshire Mexico for an undisclosed sum. The deal that includes a 100,000 kg/y potassium hydroxide (KOH) and a 65,000 t/y chlorine plant, is targeted to close before the end of 2022, subject to regulatory approvals.
Ashta Chemicals manufactures and markets chlorine and a range of potassium-based chemicals to a wide variety of end use markets including liquid fertilizers, runway deicers, food ingredients, pharmaceuticals and agricultural applications. The company employs around 110 people at its Ohio site, close to Ineos’ pigments operations, where it operates a recently commissioned membrane cell technology chlor-alkali unit.
Ashley Reed, CEO of Ineos Enterprises – which runs the chemical group’s intermediates business – said Ashta is “an excellent strategic fit” for the long-term local supply and use of chlorine between the two companies. The buy also will add “a well-established and respected” North American potassium hydroxide business to the Ineos portfolio.
Bigshire Mexico’s chief financial officer, Ruy Zavala, said Ashta has undertaken “significant investments” under his company’s ownership, most notably the construction and commissioning of the modern membrane cell chlor-alkali plant that utilizes Ineos’ Bichlor technology.
Zavala added that Bigshire believes the next phase of Ashta’s development can be “well progressed” as part of Ineos, projecting that “the complementary strategic fit” to be created will further improve the long-term sustainability of the company and its employees.
Author: Dede Williams, Freelance Journalist
