Allen & Overy LLP has advised the specialty chemicals Group ALTANA, headquartered in Wesel on the Lower Rhine, on the acquisition financing (a syndicated loan from Deutsche Bank) of the global rheology business of Rockwood Holdings U.S. Inc . The division of Rockwood "Performance Additives" is a leading global provider of rheology additives which can determine the flow behavior of different materials. The purchase price is 635 million US dollars.

In 2012 the Rheology business of Rockwood employed around 340 staff at four production sites in the U.S., UK and Germany, with a turnover of 191 million US dollars.

The Allen & Overy team included partners Dr Neil George Weiand (lead) and Thomas Neubaum, Counsel Dr. Mark Hallett and associate Dr. Alexander Schilling (all banking and finance, Frankfurt).