DUSSELDORF, Germany (Jan. 16)—Degussa A.G. has increased its ownership of Egesil A.S., a precipitated silica joint venture in Adapazari, Turkey, to 51 percent. Ege Kimya A.S., the company's founding entity, retains 49-percent ownership. The firms did not disclose the value of Degussa's purchase of the additional 26 percent.
"The increased participation will achieve a second important step in the enhancement of our market position in precipitated silicas in southeastern Europe and the near East," Carl Voigt, a Degussa board member, said in a prepared statement.
Degussa and Ege Kimya, a family-owned chemical group, established Egesil two years ago. Since then the plant's annual capacity has nearly doubled to 15,000 metric tons from 8,000 tons originally with the addition of new capacity for high-performance applications, such as for low rolling resistance "green" tires.