Struggling Clariant could be broken up

The struggling company continues to be on the receiving end of rumours about its future. Unnamed sources are fueling speculation that the company will be broken up and with additional investigation it appears that the following is planned:

• the pigments and additives division will be sold to a competitor
• textile, leather and paper will be acquired by a private equity company 

This would leave the company as two businesses - masterbatch and functional chemicals (about half the current turnover of Clariant). Speculation was fueled after the departure of CEO Jan Secher and Clariant's inability to find a sustainable strategy.  After the BASF move to acquire Ciba, the needed consolidation in this sector has driven Clariant into a vulnerable position where it has no choice but to make a move to survive.

The article in SontagsZeitung is worth reading.