Czech Republic-based J&T MS 1 SICAV has sent a public letter to the board of TiO₂ producer Venator Materials highly critical of the firm’s strategic direction and demanding additional independent shareholder representation. J&T is the second largest shareholder in Venator, with a stake of 14.3%.

Since an IPO in August 2017, the letter states, Venator’s share price has fallen by about 96% from a peak of $25.50 to less than $1. In November 2022, the company was warned that it faces a potential delisting from the New York Stock Exchange.

Bryan Moran, global skin care technical manager at Lubrizol Life Science Beauty, discusses how formulators can address a key trend in sun care

In the 1970s and 1980s, no lifeguard would hit the beach without a thick white coating of zinc oxide sunblock on their nose. It was effective but also unattractive and uncomfortable.

TiO₂ producer Tronox is facing a Phase 2 investigation from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into its proposed acquisition of the TiZir titanium and iron business from French mining and metallurgy group Eramet. The company said that it may offer unspecified ‘remedies’ before this goes ahead.

New York-based SK Capital Partners has acquired most of Huntsman’s stake in TiO₂ pigments and performance additives producer Venator Materials, which Huntsman span off in 2017. In all, it has bought a 40% stake or 42.5 million shares for about $100 million, including a 30-month option to buy the remaining 9.5 million at $2.15/share.