Olin Corporation and Huntsman Corporation have signed a merger-of-equals agreement under which Huntsman shareholders will receive 0.5476 shares of Olin common stock for each Huntsman share, valuing the consideration at about $11.06 per share based on Olin’s July 9, 2026 closing price. Both boards unanimously back the deal and are calling special virtual meetings on August 25, 2026 for shareholders to vote on the merger and related proposals, with a preferred ‘direct merger’ structure expected to improve capital structure efficiency and avoid potentially costly debt refinancings that would weigh on the combined group’s net income.
The transaction can be completed via either a direct merger of Huntsman into Olin or a two-step subsidiary merger, provided Olin and Huntsman investors approve the respective merger resolutions. Shareholders are being urged to vote in favor, with advisory votes on executive compensation and adjournment flexibility also on the ballot to facilitate securing sufficient support for a deal that would reshape the competitive landscape for both chemicals producers and consolidate their New York-listed equity under the Olin ticker.
Sika AG said Aug. 19 that it has placed an inaugural hybrid capital bond with a total amount of €1 billion split into two €500-million tranches. The net proceeds of the transaction will be used for general corporate purposes including financing of bolt-on acquisitions and refinancing of existing financial indebtedness, the company said.
Outokumpu Oyj (Helsinki, Finland) is inaugurating a new agglomeration plant for biocoke in Tornio, Finland. The plant enables the replacement of fossil coke with biomass-based biocoke in ferrochrome production. The investment marks a significant step forward in the company’s efforts to reduce its direct carbon dioxide emissions and develop low-carbon stainless steel production.
Tioxide Materials Limited (Tioxide) recently announced the successful recommissioning of the titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment production facility at Greatham in Hartlepool, UK, marking a major milestone following LB Group’s acquisition of the site and its associated TiO2 pigment assets earlier this year.
