Divestment U.S. paints and coatingsmaker PPG has agreed to sell its silicas products business for about EUR 280 million to Warsaw, Poland-based Qemetica, a manufacturer of soda ash, silicates and other specialty chemicals. The business, which has about 400 employees, manufactures precipitated silica products as performance-enhancing additives. The transaction includes manufacturing facilities in Lake Charles, Louisiana, US and Delfzijl, The Netherlands. In addition, Qemetica will lease silicas manufacturing and research and development operations at PPG's U.S. sites in Barberton, Ohio, and Monroeville, Pennsylvania, respectively. www,ppg.com Acquisition ...