Specialty Chemicals Company LANXESS has taken a significant step forward in the planned acquisition of U.S. chemical company Chemtura. Chemtura's shareholders approved the merger at a special meeting in Philadelphia, United States.

99.88 percent of the votes cast were in favor of the merger, representing 81.77 percent of Chemtura's outstanding common stock. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Chemtura shareholders will receive US$ 33.50 for each outstanding share in cash at closing of the transaction.

Matthias Zachert, Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG, welcomed the vote approving the merger taken at the shareholders' meeting. "We are pleased that Chemtura's shareholders are so supportive of the planned acquisition. Their approval is an important milestone on LANXESS's route to becoming one of the major players in the field of additives chemistry."

Clearance for the acquisition from the U.S. antitrust authorities was already received at the end of December 2016. LANXESS expects to close the transaction in mid-2017 after all remaining regulatory approvals have been received.

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