Columbian buys control of carbon black venture

MARIETTA, Ga. (March 23)—Columbian Chemicals Co. has purchased majority control of Columbian Carbon Japan, a joint venture with D.P. Shokai, and formed a distribution company in the Philippines. Columbian said it now owns a 68-percent stake in the Japanese business, up from 50 percent. The deal will help Columbian increase its sales, warehousing and distribution focus on the more profitable industrial carbon black and mechanical goods market segments, the firm said. In the Philippines, Columbian formed Columbian Chemicals Philippines Distribution Co. to serve customers in that country.