GHCL (formerly, Gujarat Heavy Chemicals) is considering acquisition of Romanian soda ash maker Uzinele Sodice Govora (USG). This transaction, once materialised, will be GHCL's second buyout in there its takeover of soda-ash company SC Bega Upsom SA, December 2005. The proposed acquisition is part of the company's target to quadruple its capacity to 4M/t by 2008. According to the world's pecking order of soda ash manufacturers, a 4M/tpa company should rank second in the list. Chairman Sanjay Dalmia said: "We are also in talks with soda ash companies in China and the USA, which are likely to be over by June." In the last 18 months, GHCL has spent around US$165M on foreign buyouts. The list includes UK-based home textile retail company Rosebys, with 300 stores, and the US-based textiles company Dan River. The plan is to source textile items from China, Paksitan & India & sell them as brands in these retail outlets.
