Niche specialty chemicals company Perstorp (Perstorp, Sweden) announced on Jan. 23 that it has entered into an agreement to sell YLA Inc. and its subsidiary CCS Composites LLC, both based in Benicia, Calif., to TenCate Advanced Composites USA Inc. (Morgan Hill, Calif.). The divestment is said to be in line with Perstorp’s strategy to focus on and expand its core specialty chemicals activities. The deal was to close in February, subject to U.S. government approval.

YLA is a manufacturer of advanced thermoset composite materials, which it supplies to molders in the satellite and communications, aircraft, military, high-temperature and energy markets. CCS Composites manufactures aerospace-grade, compression-molded composite components used in commercial and military aircraft, satellite, oil and gas and industrial applications.

“The transaction provides YLA and its employees with an opportunity to develop within a broader-based advanced composites manufacturer,” comments Perstorp president and CEO Bo Dankis. According to Jorg Huber, president and CEO of TenCate Advanced Composites USA, the acquisition of YLA and CCS strengthens TenCate’s market position within the aerospace market and further establishes the company’s presence in advanced composite materials.

TenCate Advanced Composites USA is part of TenCate’s (Almelo, the Netherlands) aerospace and armor composites group, known for aerospace-grade thermosetting composite materials as well as trademarked Cetex and Cetex Thermolite thermoplastic composite materials. TenCate’s recent strategic acquisitions of thermoplastic prepreg producer Phoenixx TPC (Taunton, Mass.), armor maker Composix Co. (Newark, Ohio) and now YLA/CCS have strengthened the company’s technological and competitive position in its focus markets, notes Huber. YLA and CCS collectively had 2007 sales in excess of $23 million (USD).