Investment firm to buy Kraton Polymers

HOUSTON (Nov. 10)—Private investment partnership Texas Pacific Group has agreed to buy Kraton Polymers L.L.C. from New York-based Ripplewood Holdings L.L.C. in a deal valued at $770 million. Texas Pacific Group, a 10-year-old investment company with holdings of more than $13 billion, cited Kraton's "ability to grow through innovation, customer service and quality excellence" for its interest in Kraton, which has been on the market since August. Ripplewood bought styrenic block copolymer producer Kraton for $520 million in 2001 from Royal Dutch/Shell Group. Kraton operates six plants worldwide and reports annual sales of more than $600 million. Among Texas Pacific's holdings are Burger King Corp., Del Monte Foods Co., Continental Airlines Inc., America West Airlines Corp. and Oxford Health Plans Inc.