French start-up Lactips signed a contract with US packaging group SmartSolve to produce 210 tonnes of its casein-derived water-soluble polymer, a substitute for petroleum-based PVOH, following two years of joint development.

CARBIOS and French label maker SLEEVER signed an exclusive long-term contract to jointly develop Home Compost biodegradable shrinksleeve films, including a master supply agreement for CARBIOS Active enzyme for PLA biodegradation.

Chemieanlagenbau Chemnitz has been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction management contract by PVC maker Kem One to build a membrane chlor-alkali electrolysis plant at Fos-sur-Mer, France. The order volume is $64 million, with Asahi Kasei as technology partner.

SK Capital Partners, LP completed its previously announced acquisition of IPACKCHEM Group SAS, a Paris-headquartered supplier of barrier packaging for crop protection and specialty chemicals. The deal value was not disclosed.

Tikehau Capital, Bpifrance and minority investors provided 33 million euros to ADDEV Materials to finance its acquisitions of Andpak and Zip-Chem, following an April investment of 38 million euros.

Addev Materials, a supplier to the aerospace, space and defence market, has agreed to acquire ANDPAK, a custom chemical packaging provider, and Zip-Chem, a surface preparation products maker. Investors reinvested EUR 33 million into Addev to finance the deal.

The Shepherd Chemical Company is investing $8.5 million to expand its Mirecourt, France manufacturing and R&D site, adding a third reactor, a new warehouse and upgraded pilot facilities. Production in the new reactor is expected in late 2019, potentially doubling the site's capacity.

Solvay is doubling its kitting capabilities for process materials at its Toulouse, France site to meet rising demand for large composite parts. The expansion will create 60 new jobs over the next few years.