Bain Capital Exits Kioxia After AI-Fueled Valuation Surge 
Gold Prices Slip as Stronger Dollar, Fed Rate Outlook Weigh on Bullion 
Mizuho’s Top U.S. Industrials Stocks: Why Corteva and Stanley Black & Decker Stand Out 
Wolfspeed Sues Navitas Over GaN and SiC Patent Infringement 
Oil Prices Slip but Stay on Track for Weekly Gains as U.S.-Iran Conflict Persists 
Trump, Canada Reach Gordie Howe Bridge Deal Ahead of July 27 Opening 
Oppenheimer Sees CNH Industrial as Top 2026 Agriculture Stock Pick on Dealer Consolidation Strategy 
Oil Prices Rise as U.S.-Iran Conflict Fuels Strait of Hormuz Supply Fears 
Sino Biopharm Stock Rises After AstraZeneca Licensing Deal, GSK Partnership Expansion 
SK Hynix’s $28B U.S. IPO Draws Strong Demand as AI Chip Boom Fuels Investor Interest 
Levi Strauss Raises 2026 Outlook After Q2 Earnings Beat, Shares Drop Despite Strong Results 
Zhipu AI Raises HK$31.37 Billion in Discounted Share Sale to Accelerate AI Growth 
US Back-to-School Spending Seen Falling as Families Focus on Essentials 
Bernstein Names IAG, Ryanair as Top European Airline Stocks Ahead of Earnings 
Morgan Stanley Names Marks & Spencer Top European Retail Pick, Sees Strong Upside 
Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong Expected to Meet Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on AI and Chip Partnership 
Bernstein Raises 2026 Nickel Price Forecast as Indonesia Tightens Supply 
DL Chemical, the South Korean comprehensive petrochemical company, is set to acquire Kraton, the Houston, Texas, headquartered biobased chemical manufacturer. It was reported that it would be an all-cash deal with an enterprise value of about $2.5 billion.
According to Korea Herald, DL Chemical revealed on Tuesday, Sept. 28, that it will buy Kraton to boost its presence in the United States as well as the European markets. The two firms entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which the Korean firm will buy 100% of Kraton.
DL Holdings will buy the full stake at $45.60 per share of Kraton common stock. DL is set to invest $2.5 billion in all since it will also take over Kraton’s net debt amounting to $900 million.
“Following an extensive review of a wide range of strategic alternatives focused on maximizing value for the benefit of our stockholders, Kraton’s Board has determined that the sale of Kraton to DL Chemical is in the best interest of Kraton stockholders,” Kraton’s president and chief executive officer, Kevin M. Fogarty, said in a press release.
He went on to add, “We believe the transaction provides immediate and certain value for Kraton stockholders and represents an attractive premium of approximately 50% over Kraton’s unaffected market valuation as of early July. Moreover, we believe DL Chemical has the industry presence and resources to continue to support the growth of Kraton’s business on a global scale.”
Pulse News reported that the Korean chemical company has plans of actively localizing key materials based on Kraton’s more than 800 patents. It was noted that today, just a small number of advanced countries are leading the development of new materials, so the majority of countries are heavily relying on imports of new materials.
For this, DL Chemical is planning to secure more original technology and expand investment to create a new materials industry ecosystem. Finally, the firm is likely to take the lead in the global styrene butadiene copolymer (SBC) plastic market with its acquisition of Kraton.
