Italian performance additives producer Italmatch Chemicals has agreed to buy Solvay’s desalination and phosphonates and phosphonic acid-based water additives business.

Financial details were not disclosed but the transaction is expected to close by the end of this month.

The agreement includes the acquisition of all products, trademarks, patents and customer portfolio.

Italmatch said the purchase will further strengthen its position as a leading global supplier of water management additives. “We will be able to expand our product range and enter into new market segments, such as the Middle Eastern thermal desalination markets,” stated Sergio Iorio, CEO of Italmatch Chemicals.

The acquisition comes one year after the takeover of Naples-based GRS Chemical Technologies, a center of excellence for low/high molecular weight polymers and fuel additives.