Released on April 28, 2008

Foseco Plc, Staffordshire, U.K., was acquired by Cookson Group Plc, London, at the end of April, finalizing a deal that had been in the works since October 2007.

According to a press release issued by Foseco, the acquisition was approved by the board of directors of both companies and completed on April 4. Cookson had previously been involved in the molten metal industry, trading under the name Vesuvius.

Officials for Foseco said the company would continue to serve the metalcasting industry, combining its existing resources with the Vesuvius portfolio to form a new metalcasting business unit.

“We believe that by blending the very best of Vesuvius with the very best of Foseco, we will create a great business that will set the new global standard in providing innovative solutions for the [metalcasting] industry,” said Francois Wanecq, Vesuvius president and CEO.

Foseco’s carbon bonded ceramics business earned revenues of approximately $38 million for the year ended Dec. 341, 2006. It operates manufacturing plants in Scotland and the U.S.