UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

x      ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010

Or

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number   333-109686

Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

(301) 470-3366

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act:

None

(Title of class)

The Registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instructions I (a) and (b) of Form 10-K and is therefore filing this form with the reduced disclosure format as permitted.

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  o Yes x No

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  o Yes x No

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  x Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  oYes o No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). o Yes x No

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold , or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

Not applicable.

The Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, is not publically traded. As of March 8, 2011, there were 1,910 outstanding shares of common stock of the Registrant, all of which is held by its parent company Rockwood Specialties International, Inc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORM 10-K

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PART I

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements within the context of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 are not statements of historical fact and may involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. We have used the words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “predict,” “could,” “may” and other words and terms of similar meaning, including references to assumptions, in this report to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made based on expectations and beliefs concerning future events affecting us and are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by these forward-looking statements. In particular, these factors include, among other things:

·            our business strategy;

·            changes in the general economic conditions in North America and Europe and in other locations in which we currently do business;

·            competitive pricing or product development activities affecting demand for our products;

·            technological changes affecting production of our materials;

·            fluctuations in interest rates, exchange rates and currency values;

·            availability and pricing of raw materials;

·            governmental and environmental regulations and changes in those regulations;

·            fluctuations in energy prices;

·            changes in the end-use markets in which our products are sold;

·            our ability to access capital markets;

·            hazards associated with chemicals manufacturing;

·            our high level of indebtedness;

·            risks associated with negotiating, consummating and integrating acquisitions;

·            risks associated with competition and the introduction of new competing products, especially from the Asia-Pacific region; and

·            risks associated with international sales and operations.

You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statements made by us in this document or elsewhere speak only as of the date on which we make them. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. We disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Item 1. Business.

Unless we indicate otherwise or the context otherwise requires, any references to “we,” “our,” “us,” the “Company,” “Group” or “Rockwood” refer to Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Unless otherwise noted, all balance sheet related items as of December 31, 2010 which are denominated in euros are converted at the December 31, 2010 exchange rate of €1.00 = $1.3384.

General

Rockwood is a global developer, manufacturer and marketer of high value-added specialty chemicals and advanced materials used for industrial and commercial purposes. Rockwood is focused on surface treatment and lithium chemicals; advanced ceramics, titanium dioxide pigments, iron-oxide pigments, timber-treatment chemicals and clay-based additives. Rockwood was incorporated in Delaware in October 2000 in connection with an acquisition of certain assets, stock and businesses from Laporte plc (“Laporte”) on November 20, 2000 (the “KKR Acquisition”) by affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (“KKR”). The Company is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Rockwood Holdings, Inc (“Holdings”). Affiliates of KKR control less than a majority (approximately 20.9% as of December 31, 2010) of the voting power of Holdings’ outstanding common stock. On December 21, 2010, funds affiliated with KKR and DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III, L.P. (“DLJMB”) sold an aggregate of 8.0 million shares of Holdings; common stock.

On January 7, 2011, we completed the sale of our plastic compounding business, which manufactured specialty plastic compounds for

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the wire and cable business, as well as medical applications and other uses. This business comprised substantially all of our former Specialty Compounds segment. In the financial statements contained herein, the results of the plastic compounding business sold have been presented as discontinued operations. The rubber/thermoplastic compounding business retained is included in the “Corporate and other” category for segment reporting purposes. As of December 31, 2010, our plastic compounding business met the criteria for being reported as a discontinued operation. As a result, the consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to reflect this business as a discontinued operation for all periods presented. See Note 2, “Discontinued Operations,” for further details.

Our products consist primarily of inorganic chemicals and solutions and engineered materials. They are often customized to meet the complex needs of our customers and to enhance the value of their end products by improving performance, providing essential product attributes, lowering costs and/or making them more environmentally friendly. We generally compete in niche markets in a wide range of end-use markets, including metal treatment and general industry, chemicals and plastics, automotive, life sciences (including pharmaceutical and medical markets), construction, specialty coatings and electronics and telecommunications. No single end-use market accounted for more than 17% of our 2010 net sales.

We have a number of growth businesses, such as our Fine Chemicals and Advanced Ceramics businesses, which are complemented by a diverse portfolio of businesses that historically have generated stable revenues. Our high margins, diverse customer and end-use market base, capital discipline and ongoing productivity improvements provide us with a platform to capitalize on market growth opportunities.

We operate globally, manufacturing our products in 81 facilities in 23 countries and selling our products and providing our services to more than 60,000 customers, including some of the world’s preeminent companies. We believe our products are generally critical to our customers’ products’ performance, but account for a small percentage of the total cost of their products. No single customer accounted for more than 2% of our 2010 net sales. For a geographic description of the origin of our net sales and location of our long-lived assets, see Note 3, “Segment Information,” in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

We operate our business through the following four business segments: (1) Specialty Chemicals; (2) Performance Additives; (3) Titanium Dioxide Pigments and (4) Advanced Ceramics. The following table sets forth net sales of each segment, and the percentage of our net sales for the year ended December 31, 2010, as well as our principal products and our principal end-use markets. For financial information about each segment, see Note 3, “Segment Information.”

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(a)                Represents our European wafer reclaim business that was not included as part of the sale of our Electronics business in December 2007 and our rubber/thermoplastic compounding business that was not included as part of the sale of our plastic compounding business in January 2011. Our wafer reclaim business provides semiconductor wafer reclaim services, wafer thinning/grinding services and wafer supply services. This business works on silicon and sapphire substrates with semiconductor and solar cells manufacturers. Our rubber/thermoplastics compounding business is active in the automotive market, with products made of rubber, thermoplastic and polyurethane materials.

Diverse Customer and End-Use Market Base. We operate a diverse portfolio of distinct specialty chemicals and advanced materials businesses. We have more than 60,000 customers worldwide that cover a wide variety of industries and geographic areas. We operate a geographically diverse business, with 54% of our net sales in 2010 generated from shipments to customers in Europe, 24% to North America (predominantly the United States) and 22% to the rest of the world. No customer accounted for more than 2% of such net sales, and our top ten customers represented only approximately 8% of such net sales. Our largest end-use market represented approximately 17% of such net sales.

The following chart provides a breakdown of our 2010 net sales by end-use markets (excluding net sales of our plastic compounding business that was sold in January 2011):

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Within these end-use markets, there is further diversification by sector, product and region. For example, within the construction end-use market, our Performance Additives segment companies provide materials for new construction as well as companies that focus on remodeling and renovation. In addition, we serve construction materials clients in both the residential and commercial sectors located in North America, Europe and Asia. Within the life sciences end-use market, we serve a number of sectors, including the medical applications sector through our Advanced Ceramics segment and the pharmaceutical sector through our Specialty Chemicals segment.

Operating Segments

The following describes each of our operating segments, as well as the principal products or principal divisions within each segment.

Specialty Chemicals (36% of 2010 net sales)

Our Specialty Chemicals segment operates under the Chemetall brand name and develops and manufactures metal surface treatment products and services, lithium chemicals and fine chemicals for a wide range of industries and end markets. This segment is comprised of two business lines: (1) Surface Treatment, which supplies surface treatment products and solutions for metal processing industries; and (2) Fine Chemicals, which supplies lithium products across the entire value chain from raw materials to specialty lithium compounds and advanced metal-based specialty chemicals to niche markets. Our Specialty Chemicals segment generated net sales of $1,163.2 million, $996.6 million and $1,232.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. See Note 3, “Segment Information,” for additional financial information regarding our Specialty Chemicals segment.

Surface Treatment

We believe that our Surface Treatment business line is a leading global supplier of surface treatment products and solutions. Surface Treatment’s products are used for a variety of applications and serve the automotive, aerospace and general industrial markets, including steel and metal-working industries. This business line supplies more than 5,000 different products, many of which are based on proprietary formulations and extensive application know-how, to over 50,000 customers and operates in different locations for either production or research and development in over 20 countries. Surface Treatment operates in the following core end-markets: Automotive Technologies and Components, Cold Forming and Coil Coating, General Industry and Aerospace Technologies.

In Surface Treatment, we develop and supply products and solutions for the chemical pre-treatment of metals and other substrates, some of which are customized for individual customers and applications. Our products and solutions are critical to many areas of the metal processing industry because they protect metals from corrosion, facilitate forming and machining, allow parts to be processed in a clean and grease-free environment and ensure good coating adhesion. Other products are used in the cleaning and maintenance of aircraft. As an integrated part of the business, we also offer a full range of customer services, including process control and analysis of chemical baths at clients’ facilities.

Surface Treatment competes in markets characterized by significant barriers to entry, proprietary manufacturing technologies and know-how, demanding product-handling requirements, rigorous product quality and performance standards and specifications and longstanding service-intensive customer relationships. In order to remain competitive, we are focused on developing new products, improving process technologies, expanding our customer base and broadening our technology capabilities in existing and new markets through internal research and development and bolt-on acquisitions. Our new sites in Turkey and Brazil and the upgraded Australia site help to gain further market share in these regions. We also are involved with a number of research and development projects with industrial partners and scientific institutes on a regular basis that help us fulfill our needs for more cost efficient and environmentally compatible technologies. As a result, new products and improved technologies were launched in recent years and more are expected in the future.

The core end-markets that Surface Treatment operates in are as follows:

Automotive Technologies and Components. We provide surface treatment products and solutions for automotive OEMs, including an entire range of products and services for use in the “paint shop” step of car-body manufacture and automotive component manufacturers. The products and services we provide typically represent a low percentage of total car body production costs, but have high value in terms of corrosion protection and surface quality. Major applications include car-body treatment (zinc-phosphating), paint coagulation and cleaning and pre-treatment of automotive components such as aluminum wheels. Our services typically include intensive process control and chemical management in the customer’s production processes. We are in the process of implementing zinc-phosphate replacements globally, and believe that this represents an attractive growth area in this market.

Cold Forming and Coil Coating. We provide products and services used to facilitate the cold forming of tubes, wire drawing and cold extrusion of metal. We provide products and services used in forming, cleaning and pre-treating metal sheets used in the production of steel and aluminum coil.

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General Industry. General industry includes the largest number of customers among the Surface Treatment businesses.  We offer a range of products and services to a broad range of industrial end-markets that have metal surface treatment applications, including cleaning, activation, conversion coating and final rinsing. Our products include cleaners, iron phosphates, coolants, paint strippers and flocculants.  We have also expanded our product range in North America and China, with products in the field of metalworking fluids. Over the last three years, we have introduced a new generation of iron-phosphating products in the U.S. market, which we expect will provide growth in the next few years, and began offering silane or oxsilan-based systems. The markets for General Industry include household appliances manufacturing, can producers, heating, ventilation, aluminum finishing and other diverse end-markets. In addition, we produce specialty products, which are similar to metal surface treatment products, but are used on glass substrates for glass manufacturers, including specialty cleaners, polishing products, cutting oils and cooling lubricants.

Aerospace Technologies. We provide products and services for Aerospace OEMs, airlines and maintenance companies. Aerospace Technologies focuses on four major application areas: cleaning; corrosion protection; maintenance chemicals; and sealants. Cleaning products are used for the interior and exterior cleaning of airplanes and range from daily cleaning to complete aircraft overhaul. Corrosion protection products include waxes used to protect airframes. Maintenance chemicals for aircraft engines and turbines include high performance cleaners and products for non-destructive testing of engines, and aircraft sealants provide high technology sealing solutions for airplanes and are expected to contribute significantly to growth in the next few years. In the last few years, we introduced further variances of low-density sealants in the market place.

Competition

We believe that the top five competitors in the global metal surface treatment market held an estimated market share of more than 50% in 2010. We believe that Henkel AG & Co. KGaA is the global market leader, followed by us. The remaining top competitors include Nihon Parkerizing Co., Ltd., PPG Industries, Inc. and Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. Competition in this market is based primarily on customer service, product quality and technological capabilities.

Customers

Surface Treatment serves a large customer base that is dependent on the industry served and its specific customer needs. Surface Treatment’s largest customers include Daimler AG, ArcelorMittal, Volkswagen AG and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) N.V. The composition of the customer base varies widely among product groups and industries served. The Automotive Technologies and Components business division serves approximately 20 customers, primarily global OEMs, and approximately 500 small to large customers in the components markets; the Cold Forming and Coil Coating business division serves approximately 800 mid-size to large customers; the General Industry business division serves approximately 45,000 small to large customers in a broad range of industries worldwide; and the Aerospace Technologies business division serves approximately 4,000 small to large customers worldwide.

Fine Chemicals

Our Fine Chemicals business line consists of our lithium, special metals and metal sulfides product lines. We believe that our Fine Chemicals business line is the leading global producer of lithium products, specialty lithium compounds and chemicals and advanced metal-based specialty chemicals.

Fine Chemicals develops and manufactures a broad range of basic lithium compounds, including lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, lithium chloride, and value added lithium specialties and reagents, including butyllithium and lithium aluminum hydride. Lithium is a key component in products and processes used in a variety of applications and industries, which range from lithium batteries, high performance greases, thermoplastic elastomers for car tires, rubber soles and plastic bottles to intermediates in the pharmaceutical industry. In our Fine Chemicals business, we operate our lithium business along the following four business divisions reflecting its core end-markets: (1) Lithium Salts; (2) Butyllithium/Lithium Metal; (3) Battery Products and (4) Lithium Specialties.

In addition to developing and supplying lithium compounds, we provide technical service, including training of customers’ employees, relating to the handling of reactive lithium products. We also offer our customers recycling services for lithium containing by-products resulting from synthesis with organolithium products, lithium metal and other reagents. We plan to continue to focus on the development of new products and applications. Currently, we are in the process of developing lithium compounds for several near- to medium-term, new and potentially high growth products for various applications, such as pharmaceuticals and batteries for electric vehicles.

In August 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded $28.4 million in Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, subject to certain terms and conditions, to our Fine Chemicals business within our Specialty Chemicals segment. We are using the funds to expand and upgrade the production of lithium compounds used in lithium-ion batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles at our Silver Peak, Nevada

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and Kings Mountain, North Carolina facilities. In addition to the funds from this grant, we expect to invest a total of $39.2 million in the project by April 2013. In addition, in September 2009, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety awarded €5.7 million to our Fine Chemicals business to set up a pilot plant for the recycling of lithium-ion batteries, subject to customary terms and conditions. Including the funds from this grant, the total amount to be invested from the grant date through September 2011 is expected to be €10.0 million.

Fine Chemicals also develops and manufactures advanced metal-based specialty chemicals along two business divisions based on its principal product groups: (1) Metal Sulfides, which develops and manufactures natural and synthetic metal sulfides used in brake pads, clutch facings and cutting and grinding wheels and (2) Special Metals, which develops and manufactures cesium products for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and zirconium, barium and titanium products for various pyrotechnical applications, including airbag igniters. In order to further strengthen our competitive position in the metal-based specialty chemicals market, we are focused on the production of new variations of synthetic metal sulfides and new cesium products in the chemicals industry, the pharmaceuticals industry, the defense industry and for use in catalytic applications. We also continuously monitor our customers’ industries for potential new applications for our products. In addition, we expect to expand our business by penetrating growth areas such as India and China.

We expect that demand for synthetic metal sulfides will increase, particularly in Europe, as a result of the continuing substitution for asbestos-based friction linings, the transition from natural sulfides to synthetic sulfides spurred in part by environmental concerns and the transition from drum to disk brakes in Asia and the Americas. We believe further opportunities for growth exist from the use of the newly developed metal sulfides as solid lubricants or as additives for plastics.

Principal Business Divisions

Lithium

Lithium Salts. We develop and manufacture basic lithium compounds, which serve a wide range of industries and applications. Our products include: (1) lithium carbonate, for which the leading application is the production of thin, light weight lithium-ion batteries and is also used as a fluxing agent for enamels, glass and ceramic production to lower process temperature in aluminum electrolysis, and as a cement additive for construction applications; (2) lithium hydroxide, which is principally used in high performance greases for automotive and industrial applications and has become more important for the development of high-performance lithium-ion batteries; (3) lithium nitrate, which is principally used in the rubber industry and (4) lithium chloride, which is principally used in gas and air treatment.

Butyllithium/Lithium Metal. Our main product, butyllithium, is used as a polymerization initiator for synthetic rubber and thermoplastic elastomers and as a reagent for the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients and agrochemicals. Lithium metal is used in organic synthesis processes, primarily in the area of steroid chemistry and vitamins. Generally, these products require a high degree of handling, transport and application know-how and customer service due to their high reactivity. We benefit from being a major supplier with butyllithium manufacturing facilities in the United States, Germany and Taiwan.

Battery Products. We develop and manufacture lithium products for electronic applications, mainly for the primary (disposable) and secondary (rechargeable) battery industries. Our major product is battery grade lithium metal, which is used as anode material for primary batteries. Lithium-ion-based batteries are used extensively in consumer electronics, such as mobile phones, camcorders and laptops. We are currently introducing a new generation of conductive lithium salts to the battery market, which we believe has the potential to drive significant growth in the future. We also expect increased demand for lithium products as a result of increased demand for longer-life lithium-based batteries in electric and hybrid electric automobiles.

Lithium Specialities. We develop and manufacture lithium compounds and other products for life science applications, such as special reagents for the synthesis of drug intermediates as well as for the flavor and fragrances industry. The principal products in this business division are butyllithium, lithium aluminum hydride and lithium amides, for which we believe we hold leading market positions. We also produce various other compounds which include lithium metal, grignard reagents and alkoxides. Our research and development team often works closely with research and development departments of pharmaceutical companies, especially in the European market, in order to develop products and solutions tailored for their needs. In addition, broad variations of our lithium specialities are designed to produce liquid crystals for flat screens.

Metal-based Specialty Chemicals

Metal Sulfides. This business division has two major product lines: friction stabilizers and abrasive additives. Friction stabilizers enhance the power and performance of brake pads and clutch facings and primarily serve the automotive supplier industry while abrasive additives are additive compounds. The demand for metal sulfides is driven primarily by the demand in the automotive supplier industry.

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Special Metals. We develop and manufacture a unique range of products based on special metal compounds derived from cesium, zirconium, titanium, barium and rubidium. These products are used in highly specialized, technology-driven end-applications such as X-ray diagnostic systems and airbags, and serve various end-markets, such as chemical, pharmaceutical, metallurgical, automotive, electronics and pyrotechnical industries.

Competition

Lithium. We believe the global lithium market consists of three major producers and a number of other small producers mainly from China. We believe that we are the global market leader in the lithium compounds market. While we offer a diverse range of products from raw materials to specialty lithium compounds, FMC Corporation offers mainly specialty lithium compounds, and Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (“SQM”) offers a more limited product line focused on basic lithium compounds. Competition in this market is based on product quality, reliability of products and customer service.

Metal-based Specialty Chemicals. We believe that in the metal-based specialty chemicals business, Fine Chemicals holds a leading market position in its niche markets. We have a leading position in friction materials and are the only supplier offering a full product range of friction stabilizers and abrasive additives based on metal sulfides. Key competitors include: Dow Corning Corporation, Catalise Industria e Comercio de Metals Ltda and American Minerals, Inc. in the Metal Sulfides division and Cabot Corporation and Sigma Aldrich Corporation in the Special Metals division. Competition in the metal-based specialty chemicals markets in which Fine Chemicals competes is based on product quality and product diversity.

Customers

Fine Chemicals serves approximately 1,000 customers worldwide in its lithium business and 700 customers worldwide in its metal-based specialty chemicals products business. Fine Chemicals’ customers of lithium products include Bayer CropScience (a division of Bayer AG), Kraton Performance Polymers Inc., Energizer Holdings, Inc. and Royal DSM N.V.

Performance Additives (23% of 2010 net sales)

Our Performance Additives segment consists of business lines which develop and manufacture a range of specialty chemicals used in industrial and consumer products and processes to enhance performance or create unique characteristics. This segment manufactures and markets products that are based on a focused research and development effort and a strong technology base. Our Performance Additives segment generated net sales of $726.7 million, $671.5 million and $835.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. See Note 3, “Segment Information,” for additional financial information regarding our Performance Additives segment.

Color Pigments and Services

Our Color Pigments and Services business line is a global producer of synthetic iron-oxide and other inorganic pigments in a wide range of yellow, red, orange, ultramarine blue, black, manganese violet or blended shades, and serves the construction, paints and coatings, plastics, and specialty application markets with powder, granular and liquid grades. Color Pigments and Services focuses on developing and manufacturing high value-added inorganic pigments. The business also offers a number of unique pigment dispensing systems. Our Color Pigments and Services business line has been driven by product innovation, our brand names and our customer and technical service, including customer-specific color blending.

Principal Products

Construction Color Pigments and Services. We develop and manufacture principally iron-oxide pigments for manufacturers of construction products for use in the coloring of concrete products, including paving stones, bricks, concrete blocks, roofing tiles, stucco and mortar. Color Pigments and Services’ major U.S. brand is Davis Colors and its other key brands include Granufin/Granumat, Hydrotint, Mix-Ready and Chameleon. Granufin is a unique, dry, microgranulated pigment that combines the flow characteristics of a liquid with the storage and handling advantages of a powder. The Granumat dispensing system offers a variety of configurations and features designed to accommodate the varying requirements and budgets of concrete product manufacturers. Granufin pigments and the Granumat system improve product handling and color consistency for our customers. Our Chameleon system, which works in combination with our liquid pigments, automatically weighs, blends and conveys colors into a ready-mix truck using a standard personal computer and custom-developed Windows-based software. Color Pigments and Services has an agreement pursuant to which an affiliate of W.R. Grace & Co. sells admixtures and fibers, and distributes our liquid pigments and Chameleon dispensing systems to ready-mix and pre-cast producers in the concrete industry. Our combined efforts provide ready mix and pre-cast customers with added value in the form of colored, ready-mix concrete.

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Paints, Coatings and Colorants. We also develop and manufacture color pigments for the paints, coatings, plastics, paper and rubber end-use markets including the brands Ferroxide, Trans-oxide, Solaplex and Colourplex. We produce a wide variety of pigments for these markets that include synthetic iron-oxides, corrosion inhibitor pigments, complex inorganic color pigments and process natural pigments such as burnt umbers and siennas. The largest application for these products is colorant used in architectural, industrial and special purpose paints and coatings. Color, ease of dispersion and chemical stability are the primary characteristics of our products, which can be used in a wide variety of both solvent and water-borne systems. We believe that a number of Color Pigments and Services’ products are considered industry standards in the markets in which we compete, such as our Mapico yellow and Copperas red pigments for architectural and industrial applications and our heat-stable tans, which can tolerate applications requiring high-temperature processing, such as plastic compounding and roofing granules.

Specialties. Our iron-oxide pigments are also used in a wide variety of specialty applications such as toner for large printers and copiers, security inks used to print bank notes, catalysts for styrene production and cosmetics. Each of these markets requires specialized pigments with unique properties which are often as important as the coloring characteristics. For example, printer toners require specific magnetic properties whereas pigments used in cosmetics require color and purity.

Competition

We believe that there are a significant number of producers of iron-oxide pigments across the globe at both the pigment synthesis and finishing levels with whom we compete. We believe these producers include Lanxess AG, Cathay Pigments Group, Interstar Materials Inc. and Shanghai Yipin Pigments Co., Ltd. as well as other producers in Japan and China. Competition in this segment is based on customer service, product attributes, such as product form and quality and price. Product quality is critical in the higher end of the business on which Color Pigments and Services focuses, as inconsistent product quality can have an adverse impact on the color consistency of the end-product.

Customers

Color Pigments and Services’ key customers include Akzo Nobel, Oldcastle (CRH plc), The Sherwin-Williams Company, Evonik Degussa GmbH, and W.R. Grace & Co., each of which has been our customer for at least ten years. Color Pigments and Services’ customer base is highly fragmented.

Timber Treatment Chemicals

The Timber Treatment Chemicals business line is a manufacturer of wood protection products primarily in North America and Europe, and we market these products through our joint venture formed in 2007. Wood protection products enhance the performance of wood by increasing its longevity through protection from decay and fungal or insect attack. Our specialty timber chemicals also add water repellency, fire retardancy, mold inhibition and other properties to wood products. Timber Treatment Chemicals’ products include wood protection products based on our alkaline copper quaternary, or ACQ technology, which was awarded the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in 2002, Ecolife, our new non-metallic wood preservative technology and chromated copper arsenate, or CCA. In 2008, we introduced our newest Ecolife system which utilizes Ecovance, a high-performance non-metallic preservative with enhanced environmental benefits. Introductory commercialization began in 2008 but did not have a significant impact in 2008, 2009 or 2010. We expect Ecolife to take advantage of market desire for non-metallic wood protection products and the growth potential in the development and commercialization of the next generation of wood protection products. However, we do not expect Ecolife to have a significant impact in 2011. Other products include Clearwood, our wood protection product for wood windows and doors, as well as a range of specialty additives with fire retardant, water repellent or moldicide properties. Applications for our products include wood protection products used for decking, fencing, playground equipment, garden furniture, house construction materials, utility poles, and other wood constructions.

In addition, Timber Treatment Chemicals provides a broad range of technical expertise and services to its customers. In particular, Timber Treatment Chemicals works closely with its customers to assist them in reducing the total cost of their manufacturing process by supplying timber treatment chemicals as well as treatment equipment along with technical support. We believe that Timber Treatment Chemicals is a leading provider in North America, Europe and Japan of new generation alternative timber treatment chemicals, such as ACQ and Ecolife, which provide enhanced environmental benefits, as they do not contain chrome or arsenic. Many of our Timber Treatment products are registered pesticides and subject to extensive regulation.

Our Timber Treatment Chemicals business also manufactures inorganic chemicals such as nitrates and chlorides for various industrial applications including chemicals that are added to concrete as curing accelerants and corrosion inhibitors, chemicals that are used for odor control in water treatment, galvanizing fluxes, micronutrients, pesticides and catalysts used in the manufacture of textile resins.

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Principal Products

We develop and manufacture a broad range of wood protection products, fire retardant and specialty chemicals for use in residential and industrial wood applications. In addition, we provide treatment equipment, which facilitates the handling and treatment of wood and chemicals, and we provide comprehensive technical support services to our customers. Timber Treatment Chemicals’ key brands include Ecolife, Preserve, Preserve Plus, Ultrawood, D-Blaze, Clearwood and SupaTimber.

We also develop and manufacture inorganic metallic chemicals for certain specialty markets. These include zinc chloride-based products, other chlorides, and a range of nitrates and other chemicals. Some of these products are manufactured using by-products from other large chemical companies.

Competition

We believe that Timber Treatment Chemicals is one of the leading manufacturers of wood protection products in North America, along with Arch Chemicals, Inc. and Osmose, Inc. BASF Group, Kurt Obermeier GmbH & Co. KG and Rutgers AG are other competitors, particularly in Europe. Competition for wood protection products is mainly based on price, customer support services, innovative technology and product range. In the inorganic chemicals market, we operate in niche areas, and therefore have few competitors overall. Competition in the inorganic chemicals market is mainly based on quality, customer support services and price.

Customers

Timber Treatment Chemicals sells its products primarily to wood processors who pressure-treat wood. Major customers include Coos Head Forest Products, Inc., C.M. Tucker Lumber Companies, LLC., Envirofor Preservers Ltd., Georgia-Pacific Corporation, Jeld-Wen, Inc., Koshii Preserving Co. Ltd., Land and Sea Forest Products of Pennsylvania Corporation, Spartanburg Forest Products, Inc., Sunbelt Forest Products Corporation, and Sundre Forest Products, Ltd. Customers of our inorganic chemicals product line include Evonik Degussa GmbH, Rohm and Haas Company (a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company), Nalco Company and W.R. Grace & Co. Most of these companies have been our customers for at least ten years.

Clay-based Additives

Our Clay-based Additives business develops and manufactures a range of specialty rheology modifiers and additives. These products are used in a wide variety of applications to modify viscosity, thickness and flow characteristics, and keep solids in suspension. End products in which these additives are used include industrial and architectural coatings, oilfield drilling fluids, inks, household care products and composites.

Principal Products

Coatings and Inks. We offer a comprehensive line of additives which modify the viscosity, flow and suspension properties of coatings and inks, including Claytone for the manufacture of industrial and special purpose coatings, such as bridge, marine and maintenance paints, architectural coatings and associative thickeners; Optigel clays for water-based coatings and Laponite for the manufacture of automotive coatings. Our Garamite additives are used in the manufacture of high solids and low volatile organic content epoxy coatings for industrial applications.

Paper. We serve the paper industry with a product line that includes bentonite retention aids, which are used in the paper-making process to reduce fiber losses and aid in water drainage from the sheet and an additive, which provides fade-resistant color for carbonless copy paper. We also produce a grade of Laponite which is used in the production of clear, flexible and moisture-resistant films and coatings with conductive, anti-static and anti-sticking properties, that are used in the manufacture of specialty photographic and anti-static papers, ink jet papers and anti-static packaging. Our Fulacolor clay product range is used in the color developing system for carbonless copy paper.

Consumer and Household Care Products. We develop and manufacture a wide range of natural clay-based rheology modifiers, including Gelwhite and Bentolite, for the consumer and household care markets. In addition, Laponite also has functional properties that improve the performance of a wide range of consumer products, such as personal care products, creams, lotions, cosmetics and hard surface household cleaning products for the kitchen and bathroom.

Oilfield. We offer a line of Claytone organoclays, which are a type of specially treated clays, for use in diesel and synthetic oilfield drilling fluids, which help to control viscosity and flow properties. These additives also help to suspend the cuttings in the fluid, so that they can be expelled from the well efficiently. We recently introduced a Garamite additive for use in deep well drilling that requires higher performance.

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Composites. We developed and introduced the Cloisite range of clays for the manufacture of plastics and composites. While the majority of our customers purchase Cloisite for developmental products and applications, a key commercial development in 2007 was the introduction of a new, high-strength, lightweight plastic by Yamaha for personal watercraft hulls and deck lids utilizing Cloisite nanoclay. Our Nanofil business brings valuable know-how and intellectual property for flame retardant applications. Our Garamite range of clays is used in the manufacture of fiberglass composites.

Water Chemistry. We are a leading manufacturer of polyaluminium chloride, or PAC, and polyaluminium nitrate-based flocculants in Central Europe. Flocculants are added to water to improve its purity before, during and after its use in industrial, commercial and municipal applications. PAC flocculants are widely used in public, industrial and swimming pool water treatment and as a process agent in the paper industry.

Competition

Clay-based Additives operates in specialty markets, and competes based on its research and development capabilities, its ability to produce innovative high-value product solutions and its sales and technical support. Our direct competitors in these markets include Elementis plc, Laviosa Chimica Mineraria S.p.A., R.T. Vanderbilt Company, Inc., Cytec Industries, Inc., Amcol, and Feralco AB. We also compete with manufacturers who produce non-clay-based alternatives to our end-users.

Customers

We supply major coatings manufacturers such as International Paint Limited (Akzo Nobel N.V.), BASF Group, E.I. duPont de Nemours and Company, PPG Industries Inc., and The Sherwin-Williams Company; paper chemical and paper-making companies such as Mitsubishi Hi Tec Paper Europe GmbH, Sappi Limited, Brenntag AG, LEIPA Georg Leinfelder GmbH and Stora Enso Oyj; ink-makers such as Sun Chemical Corporation and oil drilling and services companies such as M-I SWACO L.L.C.

Titanium Dioxide Pigments (24% of 2010 net sales)

Our Titanium Dioxide Pigments segment operates under the Sachtleben brand name and is a leading producer of high quality chemical products with a unique range of small inorganic particles that add significant value to customers’ products and reduce the cost of customers’ production processes. Titanium Dioxide Pigments comprises two business lines: (1) Titanium Dioxide; and (2) Functional Additives. Our Titanium Dioxide Pigments segment generated net sales of $759.2 million, $666.3 million and $534.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. See Note 3, “Segment Information,” for additional financial information regarding our Titanium Dioxide Pigments segment.

Titanium Dioxide

Our Titanium Dioxide business line is a leading producer of specialty grade titanium dioxide (“TiO2”), serving a wide variety of customers in the synthetic fibers, plastics, paints, packaging inks, coatings, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and paper industries. TiO2 is a fine white powder that derives its value from its unparalleled whitening strength and opacifying ability, which is commonly referred to as hiding power. Our Titanium Dioxide business line’s principal products include TiO2 in anatase grade, TiO2 in rutile grade and titanium specialties. This business line also provides recycling services for sulfuric waste acid.

There are two ways of producing TiO2: the sulfate process and the chloride process. The chloride process permits production of only rutile TiO2 and is primarily suited for large volume production of standard TiO2 grades. We believe most of the globally installed TiO2 capacity uses the chloride process as opposed to the sulfate process. Unlike the chloride process, the sulfate process is capable of producing both the rutile and anatase grade of TiO2. We employ the sulfate process for TiO2 production and thus, the output from most of the globally installed TiO2 production capacity does not compete with our anatase products.

We believe that we have a competitive advantage in fiber anatase production and special sophisticated anatase applications based on our strong technological capabilities, long-term customer relationships and extensive test runs with regular monitoring of product and process parameters. Although it represents a negligible part of the fiber material cost, TiO2 application know-how and a longstanding application track record of homogeneous anatase crystals, both of which avoid production interruptions and excessive wear or breakdown of our customers’ equipment, are critical to our customers. We intend to focus our rutile business on selected markets and applications and to further develop our titanium specialties business. We expect this segment to benefit from sales of newly introduced nano-particle titanium dioxide pigments that are used to provide ultraviolet light protection for cosmetics, plastics and coatings.

Principal Products

TiO2 in Anatase Grade. We develop and manufacture high quality anatase TiO2 pigments. These pigments are sold primarily to the global synthetic fiber industry, as well as paper, food and pharmaceutical industries. We believe our anatase pigment, sold under the

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brand name Hombitan, is a leading global-selling TiO2 product for applications in the synthetic fiber industry.

TiO2 in Rutile Grade. We develop and manufacture rutile TiO2 pigments, which are mainly used in special applications such as selected coatings, paints, packaging inks, plastics and laminated paper production processes. In this product area, we are geographically focused on the European market. Rutile-based TiO2 pigments generally possess performance characteristics different from anatase-based pigments. Rutile-based pigments significantly improve the weatherability and durability of polymer products by providing protection against yellowing and preventing embrittlement of the material. Our rutile grades are state of the art products and are used in applications with high technical requirements.

Titanium Specialties. Our titanium specialties products primarily include “nano-particles,” which are exceptionally fine-particled, transparent and easy-to-use pigment formulations that are used across a large and diverse range of applications in small volumes. For example, the specialty grade TiO2 products are used as UV-absorbers in sun protection cosmetics. In addition, the new nano-particles form the basis for innovative wood-protection products and innovative color variations by the paints and coatings industry. Other uses include catalysts, gas cleansing, photocatalysts and intermediates for special ceramics.

Competition

Titanium Dioxide Pigments’ key competitors include: (1) Fuji Titanium Industry Co., Ltd. and Kronos Worldwide, Inc. for anatase-based TiO2; (2) DuPont Titanium Technologies, Cristal Global, Tronox Incorporated, and Huntsman LLC for rutile-based TiO2; and (3) Tayca Corporation, Ishihara Corporation and Evonik Degussa for TiO2 specialties. Competition in the markets in which Titanium Dioxide competes is generally based on technological capabilities, product quality, price in rutile grade and customer service.

Customers

Titanium Dioxide Pigments’ customers include leading manufacturers of paints, such as Akzo Nobel Coatings, Inc., PPG Industries, Inc., BASF Group and E.I. duPont de Nemours and Company; printing inks such as Sun Chemical Corporation, Flint Group and Siegwerk Druckfarben AG; fibers, such as Nan Ya Plastics Corporation and Invista Inc.; plastics, such as Ampacet Corporation and Ineos Group Limited; and paper, such as Munksjo Inc. and Papierfabrik August Koehler AG.

Functional Additives

Our Functional Additives business line is a leading global manufacturer of barium-based and zinc-based inorganic fine white pigments and additives. The main function of these products is to improve brilliance of colors and shine of coatings, improve the mechanical strength of plastic parts and prevent degradation due to exposure to light. Our Functional Additives business line serves diverse end-markets, including the plastics industry, the coatings industry and the pharmaceutical industry.

Principal Products

Barium-based Additives. We produce highly dispersed powders of barium sulfate and are the largest global producer of precipitated synthetic barium sulfates (Blanc Fixe). We provide a unique range of barium-based additives customized for applications in coatings, plastic, colorants, lubricants, PVC stabilizers and thermoplastics, fibers and paper to improve optical, chemical and mechanical properties. We also produce an X-ray-grade barium sulfate used as a contrast agent in medical applications, such as X-rays for the stomach and intestine area.

Zinc-based Additives. We believe we are also a leading producer of pure zinc sulfide pigments, mainly used in glass fiber reinforced plastic parts and coatings and a leading supplier of Lithopone, a white zinc sulfide pigment which is used in plastics and coatings.

Competition

Key competitors for barium-based additives include Solvay S.A., Gruppo Chimico Dalton S.p.A., Sakai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. and Chinese barium-producers. Key competitors for zinc-based additives include Chinese Lithopone producers. Competition in the functional additives market is primarily based on application know-how, brand recognition, product quality and, to a certain extent, price.

Customers

Functional Additives’ customers include E.I. duPont de Nemours and Company, Ampacet Corporation, BASF Group, Akzo Nobel Coatings, Inc. and A. Schulman, Inc.

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Advanced Ceramics (16% of 2010 net sales)

Our Advanced Ceramics segment operates under the CeramTec brand name and is a leading global producer of high-performance advanced ceramics materials and products. Advanced Ceramics serves four principal end-markets: (1) medical; (2) electronics; (3) industrial; and (4) automotive, with strong market positions in various niche markets such as medical products, cutting tools and mechanical applications. Our Advanced Ceramics segment generated net sales of $515.6 million, $412.2 million and $505.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. See Note 3, “Segment Information,” for additional financial information regarding our Advanced Ceramics segment.

The global ceramics market comprises products and components based on inorganic, non-metallic, microcrystalline materials that are manufactured at high temperatures. The global ceramics market can be divided into traditional ceramics, such as bricks, tiles and white ware, and high-performance ceramics, which are ceramic materials and products optimized for special purposes. High performance ceramics have superior physical, electrical, chemical or biological properties as compared to traditional ceramics and competing materials, like metals or plastics. High-performance ceramics materials include ceramic powders, ceramic additives, structural ceramics and functional ceramics. Accordingly, they have increasingly replaced plastics and metals as key engineering materials. We compete in the high-performance ceramics segment of the market, offering a wide range of high-performance ceramics products from sealing discs for sanitary fittings to ceramic components for hip joint prostheses. These products serve the market’s needs for materials that are light, strong, corrosion-resistant and capable of performing in high-temperature environments.

We believe that we have achieved success in the Advanced Ceramics segment as a result of our focus on selected segments of the high-performance ceramics market and our close customer relationships. Almost all of Advanced Ceramics’ products are made to order, taking into account specific customer requirements. In many cases, our engineers work in close cooperation with our customers during the design and development phase of new products to ensure highest quality and customer satisfaction. Through its extensive experience, Advanced Ceramics has gained detailed expertise and know-how in its applications areas.

Principal Products

Medical. We currently serve the medical applications market with two product groups - ceramic components for hip joint prostheses, such as ball heads and inserts and ceramic glove formers for high-quality latex gloves. The ceramic components for hip joint prostheses are mainly supplied to orthopedic implant manufacturers in the United States and Europe. Besides their high wear resistance and good friction behavior, high-performance ceramics are biologically inert, making them one of the few materials that are durable and stable enough to withstand the corrosive effects of bodily fluids. As a result, we expect high-performance ceramics will increasingly become more common for medical applications, such as for repair and replacement of hips, knees and other human body parts.

We believe that ceramic-on-ceramic hip implants benefit from additional substitution effects as young people and more active elderly people are better suited to use ceramic implants given their numerous attractive properties. Currently, the penetration rate for ceramic-on-ceramic hip implants in Europe is significantly higher than in North America because the first Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approval for ceramic-on-ceramic hip joint prostheses systems was granted in 2003. However, given the relative superior performance and positive early acceptance levels in the United States, we expect the market for ceramic-on-ceramic hip joint prostheses systems to continue to grow significantly in future years. We believe we are well positioned to take advantage of the growing market as we are currently the only manufacturer of ceramic-on-ceramic hip implant components used in FDA-approved hip joint prostheses systems in the United States. Given the difficulties and time involved in obtaining an FDA approval, we believe that we will be the sole supplier of ceramic-on-ceramic hip implant components in the intermediate term. We also enjoy strong relationships with the largest U.S. and European orthopedics implant manufacturers.

Electronics. We develop and manufacture substrates, electrical resistor cores and ceramic tapes as carriers for electronic circuits. Substrates are ceramic plates with electrical, thermal and mechanical properties that serve as carriers in electronic applications. These highly specialized products are used in a wide range of industries, such as the automotive, consumer electronics, aeronautics and telecommunications industries. The demand for these products is driven, in large part, by the activity levels of the semiconductor market as well as a positive substitution effect for ceramic applications. We believe that increasing demand for electronic components will continue to offer significant growth opportunities for high-performance ceramics, such as piezo ceramics. As a leading supplier of electronic ceramics materials, we believe we are well positioned to take advantage of these growth opportunities.

Cutting Tools. We develop and manufacture products used in cutting tools, other tools and tooling systems. Ceramic material properties such as high melting points, excellent hardness and good wear resistance make ceramics an excellent high-speed cutting tool material.  In addition, the longer life and faster cutting speeds possible with ceramic tools allow customers to save costs by increasing their throughput and reducing the downtimes for replacing their cutting tools. We believe we are a leading supplier of ceramic cutting tools, other tools and tooling systems for high speed processing in the automotive, metalworking and mechanical engineering industries with automotive OEMs and their suppliers being our main customers.

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Mechanical Applications and Systems. We also develop and manufacture high performance ceramic components that are used in mechanical applications and systems. Key product groups in mechanical applications include cutting blades, drawing and forming tools, drawing cones and capstans, guide elements, precision parts, pre-forms and friction discs. We primarily supply the general industrial, machinery, metalworking, automotive and textile industries with a large number of products customized to customer requirements. Mechanical systems include products used in the sanitary fittings (ceramic discs and cartridges for faucets) and automotive supplier industries in areas where fluids are pumped, compressed or stirred, such as bushings, face seal rings, pump components and valve shims and discs.

Other products. We also produce products used for applications in certain niche markets, such as electrical/thermal and ceramic metal connections, pre-forms for the casting process of piston engines, mainly for diesel engines, and wear and corrosion protection in industrial plants and armor components used in vehicle protection.

Competition

Advanced Ceramics’ key competitors are Kyocera Corporation, CoorsTek, Inc., The Morgan Crucible Company plc, Ceradyne Inc. and NGK Insulators, Ltd. However, each of these competitors has either a different geographical focus or product strategy with respect to small niche applications. Competition in the high-performance ceramics market is primarily based on product quality, product specifications and customer service.

Customers

Advanced Ceramics’ key customers include Robert Bosch GmbH, Stryker Corporation, EPCOS AG, DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., Ideal Standard International BVBA and Zimmer, Inc.

Raw Materials

We purchase raw materials and chemical intermediates from a large number of third parties. We have a broad raw material base with the cost of no single raw material representing more than 3% of our cost of products sold in 2010. Raw materials constituted approximately 46% of our 2010 cost of products sold. The table below lists the ten most significant raw materials in 2010 (in terms of dollars) recorded in cost of products sold and the principal products for which the materials were used.

Titanium-bearing slag and ilmenite are the most important raw materials used in the production of specialty grade titanium dioxide in our Titanium Dioxide business line of our Titanium Dioxide Pigments segment. We purchase Titanium-bearing slag primarily from two suppliers on a long-term basis and ilmenite from three suppliers on a long-term basis. Both of our titanium-bearing slag suppliers have limited their capacity due to technical reasons. However, we expect that these suppliers will be able to meet our basic demand for 2011, and we will continue to monitor this situation. In addition, spavin is used in the functional additives business line within our Titanium Dioxide Pigments segment. We purchase spavin from four suppliers on a long term basis for the production of barium sulfate and similar barium-based products.

In our Clay-based Additives business line of our Performance Additives segment, quaternary amine is sourced under a long-term contract, which expires at the end of 2013 and is subject to monthly adjustment for the price of tallow, the base component of quat. In our Timber Treatment Chemicals business, we predominantly source quat under an annual contract, which expires at the end of 2011.

In our Specialty Chemicals segment, tin is used in the production of metal sulfides and is purchased from two suppliers under annual supply agreements. In addition, antimony sulfide is used in the production of metal sulfides and is purchased from a number of

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sources.

Historically, we have received iron-oxide from multiple sources and have not experienced any significant supply shortages. Iron-oxide is used in our Color Pigments and Services business within our Performance Additives segment and is purchased from suppliers in China as a supplement to our iron-oxide production.

In our Titanium Dioxide Pigments segment, zinc is used to produce zinc-based pigments and is purchased from a number of suppliers under long-term contracts. There are no long-term zinc purchase contracts in our Specialty Chemicals or Performance Additives segments. In our Specialty Chemicals segment, zinc and zinc oxide are purchased from a few suppliers in Europe and the United States, and we have not experienced any supply shortages. Prices for these purchases are tied to market conditions. In our Performance Additives segment, zinc oxide is used in the production of tan iron-oxide and zinc phosphate and is purchased from multiple suppliers.

In our Timber Treatment Chemicals business, we purchase copper, a commodity, from several sources. Prices for our copper purchases are tied to market conditions. However, we expect the commercialization of next generation wood protection products to partially reduce our exposure to copper prices.

Phosphoric acid is used in our Specialty Chemicals segment and is purchased from various global sources.  This raw material is used for metal surface treatment chemicals in our Surface Treatment business. Currently, there are no long-term purchase contracts for this raw material.

In addition, lithium brine is a primary raw material source for all lithium chemicals and is found in only a small number of locations, including most significantly for us, the Atacama Desert in Chile. We have a long-term contract with the Chilean government to mine lithium brine in the Atacama Desert in Chile, which we believe provides us with a secure long-term access to lithium.

Major requirements for our key raw materials and energy are typically satisfied pursuant to contractual agreements and/or medium- or long-term relationships with suppliers. We are not generally dependent on any one supplier for a major part of our raw material requirements, but certain important raw materials are obtained from a few major suppliers. In general, where we have limited sources of raw materials, we have developed contingency plans to minimize the effect of any interruption or reduction in supply, such as sourcing from different facilities, multiple suppliers or utilizing alternative formulations.

Temporary shortages of raw materials may occasionally occur and cause temporary price increases. In recent years, these shortages have not resulted in unavailability of raw materials. However, the continuing availability and price of raw materials are affected by unscheduled plant interruptions occurring during periods of high demand, domestic and world market and political conditions, as well as the direct or indirect effect of governmental regulations. During periods of high demand, our raw materials are subject to significant price fluctuations, and, such fluctuations may have an adverse impact on the results of operations of our business. The impact of any future raw material shortages on our business as a whole or in specific geographic regions cannot be accurately predicted.

Intellectual Property

Our business is dependent to a large extent on our intellectual property rights, including patents and other intellectual property, trademarks and trade secrets. We believe that our intellectual property rights play an important role in maintaining our competitive position in a number of the markets we serve. We rely on technological know-how and formulation and application expertise in many of our manufacturing processes in order to develop and maintain our market positions. Where appropriate, we protect our new technology, applications and manufacturing processes by seeking patent protection. We have more than 3,000 patents and patent applications in key strategic markets worldwide, reflecting our commitment to invest in technology and covering many aspects of our products and processes for making those products. We also own and register in multiple jurisdictions numerous trade names and trade marks applicable to our business and products which we believe are important to our business. In addition, we have entered into agreements, pursuant to which we license intellectual property from third parties for use in our business and we license certain intellectual property to third parties. For example, we commercialized Ecolife, our next generation timber treatment preservative from our Timber Treatment Chemicals business, through our joint venture. We also develop intellectual property with third parties as discussed below in “Research and Development.”

Research and Development

We are committed to further investing in our businesses through research and development. Our research and development costs were approximately 2% of our net sales in 2010, which include certain expenses related to modifications and improvements in current products. We allocate our research and development resources selectively based on the needs and requirements of each business line to develop innovative products. Research and development costs are charged to expense, as incurred. Such costs were $49.3 million, $43.9 million and $49.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

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The objective of our research and development effort is to develop innovative chemistries and technologies with applications relevant within targeted key markets. Research and development efforts are generally focused on both process development, which is the stage at which products move from development to manufacturing and new product development. Each business line, however, also has selected long-term strategic projects with the aim to develop new competencies and technologies. For example, our Fine Chemicals business is in the process of setting up a pilot plant for the recycling of lithium ion batteries.

Each of our business lines manages its own research and development effort and has separate research and development facilities dedicated to its specific area. However, where technologically feasible, advances and findings are shared between business lines to foster greater cross-fertilization of ideas and applications. In certain cases, we conduct research and development efforts with third parties, including universities, customers and other entities. We endeavor to obtain ownership of or license to, on terms favorable to us, the intellectual property developed with a third party.

Seasonality

There is a seasonal effect on a portion of our net sales due to the end-use of some of our products. Our Color Pigments and Services business line of our Performance Additives segment shows some seasonality related to the construction market which also depends upon weather conditions. As such, the first quarter has historically been the quarter where we experience the lowest net sales. During this quarter, we typically build inventory for our construction-related businesses, in anticipation of increased sales during the spring and summer months. Thus, the first quarter is usually the quarter with the highest working capital requirements for us. Other than these seasonal trends in certain end-use markets, our overall results of operations tend to show few seasonal effects.

International Operations

The following table presents net sales based on geographic area (attributed based on seller’s location):

See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” for further details.

The following table presents our long-lived assets located in the regions indicated:

Sales and Marketing

We sell our products and services globally primarily by using our direct sales forces, although we also sell through distributors in certain of our business lines, such as Color Pigments and Services and Clay-based Additives of our Performance Additives segment or by using third party sales representatives. Each of our direct sales forces is responsible for marketing only one of our business lines, and is administered pursuant to policies established by the management of that business line. Within each business line, these direct sales forces are organized based on geographic regions, end-use applications or sub-business divisions within the business line. As of February 1, 2011, our in-house sales forces consisted of approximately 1,600 personnel worldwide.

Our direct sales forces interact with our customers to provide both purchasing advice and technical assistance. In general, our sales

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forces arrange and coordinate contact between our customers and our research and development or technical personnel to provide quality control and new product solutions. In certain of our businesses, such as the Surface Treatment and Fine Chemicals business lines of our Specialty Chemicals segment, most sales managers have a chemical engineering background with advanced degrees and significant technical experience in applying our products, and they play a critical role in developing client relationships and acquiring new clients. Our close interaction with our customers and tailored solutions have allowed us to develop and maintain strong customer relationships as well as focus our sales efforts on those customers who we believe will provide us with higher profit margins in recognition of our superior products, service and technical support.

Sales in each of our business lines are generally made on a purchase order basis. However, longer-term arrangements have been established with certain key customers.

Our marketing strategy is generally aimed at working directly with customers to gauge the success of our products, evaluating the need for improvements in product and process technology, and identifying opportunities to develop new product solutions for our customers and their end-use markets. We also use media activities, lectures and tradeshows as part of our sales and marketing efforts.

FDA Regulation

Our Advanced Ceramics segment and to a lesser extent, our Specialty Chemicals segment, are subject to regulation by the FDA with respect to certain products we produce, including ceramic ball head and liner components used in hip joint prostheses systems and pharmaceutical intermediates. Foreign, state, local and other authorities also may regulate us and our products. Regulatory agencies have established requirements that apply to the design, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical and medical device products. We sell our pharmaceutical intermediates and ceramic-on-ceramic components to other companies that also may be regulated by such authorities.

Premarket Approval. Medical devices also are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA prior to commercial distribution in the United States, including premarket approval, or PMA, which is required for devices deemed to pose the greatest risk and certain other devices. Our Advanced Ceramics segment currently supplies ceramic ball head and liner components to manufacturers for incorporation into their total hip prostheses systems, which are subject to the FDA’s PMA requirements. In addition, our Advanced Ceramics business or our customers who have obtained PMA approval may be required to obtain FDA approval for changes to the design, manufacturing or labeling of our ceramic ball head and liner components. Also, any other medical devices which our Advanced Ceramics segment seeks to produce in the future, such as knee replacement products, would likely require FDA approval for sales in the United States.

While we are not required to seek FDA approvals for our pharmaceutical intermediates, the customers to whom we supply such products may be subject to FDA approval requirements prior to testing a new drug on humans as well as marketing a new drug for commercial use in the United States. Our customers with FDA approval for a finished drug may also be required to obtain FDA approval of design, manufacturing or labeling changes to the pharmaceutical intermediates used in their finished products.

Compliance Requirements. Once on the market, drug manufacturers and medical device manufacturers are subject to numerous post-market regulations. Finished device manufacturers such as our customers who manufacture hip prostheses systems are subject to the FDA’s Quality System Regulation, or QSR, which requires quality assurance practices and procedures that address, among other things: management responsibility; audits and training; design controls; purchasing controls; identification and traceability of components; production and process controls; acceptance activities; handling of nonconforming products; the initiation of corrective and preventive actions; labeling and packaging controls; handling, storage and distribution of products and complaint handling and record keeping. The FDA does not directly require component suppliers of finished medical devices to comply with the QSR. However, because our ceramic-on-ceramic ball head and liner components are critical elements of hip joint prostheses systems, our customers may require us to comply with some or all of the QSR. Moreover, the FDA may in the future take the position that the types of components that we supply meet the definition of a finished device and are thus subject to the QSR. Our current contracts with our customers of ceramic-on-ceramic ball head and liner components require us to comply or assist our customers in complying with various FDA regulatory requirements.

The FDA’s inspectional authority extends to component suppliers. Pursuant to this authority, the FDA has the ability to conduct and has conducted inspections at our facilities at which we manufacture our ceramic-on-ceramic ball head and liner components.

If we or our customers violate FDA or other governmental regulatory requirements during either the pre- or post-marketing stages, there may be various adverse consequences. For example, in the United States, the FDA has the authority to impose fines, injunctions, and civil penalties; recall or seize products; impose operating or import restrictions, partial suspension or total shutdown of production; delay its approval or refuse to grant approval of new products; or withdraw the submission of the approved product from the market.

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Safety, Health and Environmental Matters

See Note 18, “Commitments and Contingencies,” for a discussion of our safety, health and environmental matters.

Employees

As of February 1, 2011, we had approximately 9,600 employees, with 70% located in Europe, 15% in the United States and the remaining 15% located in the rest of the world. Of our employees, approximately 3,100, or 33%, are subject to either collective bargaining agreements or other similar arrangements.

We observe local customs, legislation and practice in labor relations and, where applicable, in negotiating collective bargaining agreements. Management believes that its relations with employees and their representatives are good. We have not suffered any material work stoppages or strikes in our worldwide operations in the last five years.

Available Information

Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc. files annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You may read and copy any documents we file at the SEC’s public reference room at Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for information on the public reference room. The SEC maintains a website that contains annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information that issuers file electronically with the SEC. The SEC’s website is www.sec.gov.

The Company’s website is www.rocksp.com. We have made available, free of charge through our website, our annual report on Form 10-K, and will make available our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, as well as any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.

From time to time, Rockwood may use its Web site as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding the Company is routinely posted on and accessible at http://www.rockwoodspecialties.com/rock_english/news/compnews.asp. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about Rockwood by enrolling your email by visiting the “Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Alert Form” section at http://www.rockwoodspecialties.com/rock_english/ir/alertform.asp. The foregoing information regarding our website and its content is for convenience only. The content of our website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference into this report nor should it be deemed to have been filed with the SEC.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

You should carefully consider these risk factors in evaluating our business. In addition to the following risks, there may also be risks that we do not yet know of or that we currently think are immaterial that may also affect our business. If any of the following risks occur, our business, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition could be adversely affected.

Leverage—Our available cash and access to additional capital may be limited by our leverage.

We are highly leveraged and have significant debt service obligations. As of December 31, 2010, we had $2,161.0 million of indebtedness outstanding and total equity of $1,289.0 million. On February 10, 2011, the Company completed a refinancing of $850.0 million of senior secured term loans and repaid $408.7 million of existing senior secured term loans. See Note 20, “Subsequent Events,” for further details. This level of indebtedness could have important negative consequences, including:

·            we may have difficulty obtaining financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes;

·            we will need to use a substantial portion of our available cash flow to pay interest and principal on our debt, which will reduce the amount of money available to finance our operations and other business activities;

·            some of our debt, including borrowings under the senior secured credit facilities, have variable rates of interest, which will expose us to the risk of increased interest rates;

·            our debt level increases our vulnerability to general economic downturns and adverse industry conditions;

·            our debt level could limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and in our industry in general;

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·            our substantial amount of debt and the amount we need to pay to service our debt obligations could place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt; and

·            our failure to comply with the financial and other restrictive covenants in our debt instruments which, among other things, require us to maintain specified financial ratios and limit our ability to incur debt and sell assets, could result in an event of default that, if not cured or waived, could cause our lenders to terminate commitments under our debt agreements, declare all amounts, including accrued interest, due and payable, and enforce their rights in respect of collateral.

Our cash interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2010 was $158.6 million. After hedging, we had $908.9 million of variable rate debt outstanding at December 31, 2010, a portion of which was subject to a Libor or Euribor floor of 2.00%. After our refinancing in February 2011, we had $850.0 million of variable-rate debt outstanding which is subject to a Libor floor of 1.00%. After the refinancing, a 1% increase in the average interest rate would increase future interest expense by approximately $8.5 million per year. As of December 31, 2010, our debt service for 2011, which represents expected principal payments of our long-term debt and estimated scheduled cash interest payments, is expected to be $569.6 million. See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Liquidity — Contractual Obligations” for years beyond 2011.

Additional Borrowings Available—Despite our leverage, we and our subsidiaries may be able to incur more indebtedness. This could further exacerbate the risks described above, including our ability to service our indebtedness.

We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. Although our senior secured credit facilities and the indenture governing the senior subordinated notes due 2014 (the “2014 Notes”) contain restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, such restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions, and under certain circumstances indebtedness incurred in compliance with such restrictions could be substantial. For example, under our credit agreement dated February 10, 2011, the term loans under the senior secured credit facilities may be increased by up to $350.0 million in the aggregate, subject to certain exemptions and provided that we procure lender commitments for such increase. As of December 31, 2010, the revolving credit facility under the senior secured credit facilities provided for additional borrowings of up to $146.5 million, after giving effect to $33.5 million of letters of credit issued on our behalf. As of December 31, 2010, the Titanium Dioxide Pigments venture facility provided for a revolving credit facility of €30.0 million ($40.2 million). This facility provided for additional borrowings of up to €12.9 million ($17.3 million) as of December 31, 2010 after an outstanding bank guarantee of €17.1 million ($22.9 million) related to a defined benefit pension obligation. To the extent new debt is added to our debt levels, the substantial leverage risks described above would increase.

Restrictive Covenants in Our Debt Instruments—Our debt instruments contain a number of restrictive covenants which may limit our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or engage in other business activities that may be in our interest.

Our senior secured credit agreement and indenture governing the 2014 Notes and the Titanium Dioxide Pigment’s venture facility agreement impose, and the terms of any future indebtedness may impose, operating and other restrictions on us. Such restrictions will affect, and in many respects limit or prohibit, among other things, our ability to take certain actions. See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” section for further details. In addition, our senior secured credit facilities require us and the Titanium Dioxide Pigment’s venture facility requires the venture to achieve certain financial and operating results and maintain compliance with specified financial ratios. Our ability to comply with these ratios may be affected by events beyond our control such as an economic downturn. The restrictions and financial covenants contained our senior secured credit agreement and indenture governing the 2014 Notes and the Titanium Dioxide Pigment’s venture facility could adversely affect our ability to finance our operations, acquisitions, investments or strategic plans or other capital needs or to engage in other business activities that would be in our interest.

A breach of any of these covenants or our inability to comply with the required financial ratios could result in a default under the facilities described above. If an event of default occurs under any of these facilities, which includes an event of default under the indenture governing the 2014 Notes, the lenders could elect to:

·             declare all borrowings outstanding, together with accrued and unpaid interest, to be immediately due and payable;

·             require us to apply all of our available cash to repay the borrowings; or

·             prevent us from making any principal, premium or interest payments;

any of which would result in an event of default. The lenders will also have the right in these circumstances to terminate any commitments they have to provide further financing. If we were unable to repay or otherwise refinance these borrowings when due,

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our lenders could sell the collateral securing the senior secured credit facilities, which constitutes substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets.

Downturns in certain industries and general economic conditions could adversely affect our profitability and liquidity.

In the event another economic downturn or recession or disruption in the capital markets occurs, our results of operations, cash flows and financial position could be materially and adversely affected. Under such circumstances, the demand for our products could decrease, which would adversely affect our results of operations. In addition, our products are used in certain industries, such as the automotive and construction industries. Prolonged downturns or bankruptcies in one or more of these industries could severely reduce demand for our products. For example, sales in our Performance Additives business have been adversely impacted by downward trends in commercial and residential construction, housing starts and trends in residential repair and remodeling. Further, a downturn in the automotive industry, particularly in Europe, may adversely affect the results of operations of our Surface Treatment business in our Specialty Chemicals segment. Moreover, if the value of one or more of our businesses deteriorates, we may be required to record additional impairment charges that could adversely affect our results of operations. If we are unable to successfully anticipate or respond to changing economic conditions, our results of operations and financial position may be materially and adversely affected.

Further, another economic downturn or recession or market disruption in the capital and credit markets may adversely impact our future cash flows from operations and our liquidity. For example, we have pension plans located in Germany, Finland, the United Kingdom and the United States that were adversely impacted by market conditions in late 2008 and early 2009. Although recent investment performance of assets in pension plans covering our employees in these countries has reduced the amount of any immediate funding obligations and we have entered into long-term funding arrangements for pension plans located in Germany and the U.K., we may have to make a one-time payment and/or enter into a long-term funding arrangement for the Finnish Plan. Our funding obligations could also change significantly based on the investment performance of the pension plan assets and changes in actuarial assumptions for local statutory funding valuations. Any deterioration of the capital markets or returns available in such markets may negatively impact our pension plan assets and increase our funding obligations for one or more of these plans and negatively impact our liquidity. We cannot predict the impact of this or any further market disruption on our pension funding obligations.

Risks Associated with Acquisitions—We may not be able to complete proposed acquisitions nor successfully integrate acquisitions we may undertake in the future.

The process of combining or acquiring businesses with Rockwood involves risks. We may face difficulty integrating the new operations, technologies, products and services of future acquisitions or combinations, and may incur unanticipated expenses related to future acquisitions. The difficulties of combining operations may be magnified by integrating personnel with differing business backgrounds and corporate cultures. Failure to successfully manage and integrate acquisitions with our existing operations could lead to the potential loss of customers of the acquired business, the potential loss of employees who may be vital to the new operations, the potential loss of business opportunities or other adverse consequences that could affect our financial condition and results of operations. Even if integration occurs successfully, failure of any future acquisition or combination to achieve levels of anticipated sales growth, profitability or productivity comparable with those achieved by our existing operations, or otherwise not perform as expected, may adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, certain acquisitions may trigger regulations designed to monitor competition and would therefore require regulatory approval. We cannot predict whether such authorities will approve acquisitions we seek to accomplish in the future.

Currency Fluctuations—Because a significant portion of our operations is conducted in foreign currencies, fluctuations in currency exchange rates may adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations and may affect the comparability of our results between financial periods.

Our operations are conducted by subsidiaries in many countries. The results of their operations and financial condition are reported in their functional currency, generally their local currency, and are then translated into U.S. dollars at the applicable exchange rates for inclusion in our consolidated financial statements. The exchange rates between some of these currencies and the dollar in recent years have fluctuated significantly and may continue to do so in the future. A significant portion of our net sales and cost of products sold is denominated in Euros. Approximately 61% of our 2010 net sales were derived from subsidiaries whose local currency is the euro. This increases the impact of the fluctuation of the euro against the U.S. dollar.

Furthermore, because a portion of our debt is denominated in Euros, which as of December 31, 2010 equaled an aggregate of €786.8 million ($1,053.0 million) and after our refinancing in February 2011 equaled €515.8 million ($690.3 million), we are subject to fluctuation in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the euro. For example, the dollar-euro rate increased from €1.00 = $0.939 on December 31, 2000 to €1.00 = $1.3384 on December 31, 2010. Being subject to this currency fluctuation may have an adverse effect on the carrying value of our debt. After the refinancing, a weakening or strengthening of the euro against the U.S. dollar by $0.01 would decrease or increase, respectively, by $5.2 million the U.S. dollar equivalent of our total euro-denominated debt of

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€515.8 million. In addition, because our consolidated financial statements are reported in U.S. dollars, the translation effect of such fluctuations has in the past significantly impacted, and may in the future, significantly impact the carrying value of our debt. We also incur currency transaction risk whenever we enter into either a purchase or sale transaction using a currency other than the local currency of the transacting entity. We may not be able to effectively manage our currency translation and/or transaction risks, and as a result, volatility in currency exchange rates may have a material adverse effect on the carrying value of our debt and results of operations.

Regulation of Our Raw Materials, Products and Facilities—Our business could be adversely affected by regulation to which our raw materials, products and facilities are subject.

Some of the raw materials we handle, and our products and facilities, are subject to government regulation. These regulations affect the manufacturing processes, handling, uses and applications of our products. In addition, some of our subsidiaries’ products contain raw materials, such as arsenic pentoxide, carbon disulfide, lithium carbonate, tetrahydrofuran, copper, chromic acid, silica, zinc chromate and lead that are deemed hazardous materials in certain situations. The use and handling of these materials is regulated and some of these regulations require product registrations, which also are subject to renewal and potential revocation. For example, in February 2002, the EPA announced a voluntary decision by CCA manufacturers, including our subsidiaries, to amend their registrations for CCA to limit use of CCA-treated lumber in most residential settings, effective December 31, 2003. These regulations may affect our ability to market certain chemicals we produce.

There is also a risk that other key raw materials or one or more of our products may be found to have, or be recharacterized as having, a toxicological or health-related impact on the environment or on our customers or employees. If such a discovery or recharacterization occurs, the relevant materials, chemicals or products, including products of our customers incorporating our materials or chemicals, may be recalled or banned or we may incur increased costs in order to comply with new regulatory requirements. Change in regulations, or their interpretation, may also affect the marketability of certain of our products. We cannot predict how these and other findings from regulatory agencies may affect our cash flows or results of operations.

Manufacturing Hazards—Hazards associated with chemical manufacturing could adversely affect our results of operations.

Due to the nature of our business, we are exposed to the hazards associated with chemical manufacturing and the related storage and transportation of raw materials, products and wastes in our manufacturing facilities or our distribution centers, such as fires, explosions and accidents. These hazards could lead to an interruption or suspension of operations and have an adverse effect on the productivity and profitability of a particular manufacturing facility or on our company as a whole. Other hazards include piping and storage tank leaks and ruptures, mechanical failure, employee exposure to hazardous substances, chemical spills and other discharges or releases of toxic or hazardous substances or gases, inclement weather and natural disasters. These hazards may cause personal injury and loss of life, damage to property and contamination of the environment, which could lead to government fines or work stoppage injunctions and lawsuits by injured persons.

Raw Materials—Fluctuations in costs of our raw materials or our access to supplies of our raw materials could adversely affect our results of operations.

Although no single raw material represented more than 3% of our cost of products sold in 2010, raw material costs generally account for a high percentage of our total costs of products sold. In 2010, raw materials constituted approximately 46% of our cost of products sold. We generally purchase raw materials based on supply agreements linked to market prices and therefore our results of operations are subject to short-term fluctuations in raw materials prices. These fluctuations limit our ability to accurately forecast future raw material costs and hence our profitability.

Many of the raw materials we use are commodities, and the price of each can fluctuate widely for a variety of reasons, including changes in availability, major capacity additions or reductions or significant facility operating problems. Historically, there have been some price increases we have not been able to pass through to our customers. This trend may continue in the future. In addition, titanium-bearing slag used in our Titanium Dioxide Pigments segment is our largest raw material (in terms of dollars) and is sourced primarily from two suppliers. If one of our suppliers is unable to meet its obligations under our present supply agreement or we are unable to enter into new supply arrangements on competitive terms when our existing short-term supply arrangements expire, we may be forced to pay higher prices to obtain these necessary raw materials. In addition, a significant portion of our lithium compounds are processed at a single location of a supplier. Any disruption at this facility could adversely affect our ability to meet market demand for these products, our relationships with our customers and our results of operations. Furthermore, certain of our raw materials, such as cesium and lithium salts, are sourced from countries where political, economic and social conditions may be subject to instability. In addition, one of our raw materials, lithium brine, requires a period of gestation before it can be used to produce lithium compounds. In the event there is an increase in market demand for lithium products, or of unfavorable weather conditions at the lithium ponds, as we experienced in early 2006, we may not be able to respond to such market demand on a timely basis. Any interruption of supply or any price increase of raw materials could result in our inability to meet demand for our products, loss of customer goodwill and higher

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costs of producing our products.

Energy Costs—Fluctuations in energy costs could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

Energy purchases in 2010 constituted approximately 9% of Rockwood’s cost of products sold. Fluctuations in the price of energy limit our ability to accurately forecast future energy costs and consequently our profitability. For example, natural gas prices were volatile and increased in 2010 in Europe. Rising energy costs may increase our raw material costs and negatively impact our customers and the demand for our products. These risks will be heightened if our customers or production facilities are in locations experiencing severe energy shortages. For example, our lithium facility in Chile has experienced a shortage of natural gas in the past due to the Argentine government’s decision to ration its supply of natural gas to Chile. If energy prices fluctuate significantly, or we experience severe energy shortages, our business, in particular, our Titanium Dioxide segment where energy costs are more significant, or results of operations may be adversely affected.

Environmental, Health and Safety Regulations—Compliance with extensive environmental, health and safety laws could require material expenditures or changes in our operations.

Our operations are subject to extensive environmental, health and safety laws and regulations at national, international and local levels in numerous jurisdictions. In addition, our production facilities and a number of our distribution centers require operating permits that are subject to renewal. The nature of the chemicals industry exposes us to risks of liability under these laws and regulations due to the production, storage, transportation, disposal and sale of chemicals and materials that can cause contamination or personal injury if released into the environment. In 2010, our capital expenditures for safety, health and environmental matters (“SHE”) were $19.2 million. For 2011, we estimate capital expenditures for compliance with SHE laws to be at similar levels.

Compliance with environmental laws generally increases the costs of manufacturing, the cost of registration/approval requirements, the costs of transportation and storage of raw materials and finished products, as well as the costs of the storage and disposal of wastes, and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. We may incur substantial costs, including fines, damages, criminal or civil sanctions and remediation costs, or experience interruptions in our operations, for violations arising under these laws or permit requirements. Furthermore, environmental laws are subject to change and have tended to become stricter over time. Such changes in environmental laws or their interpretation, or the enactment of new environmental laws, could result in materially increased capital expenditures and compliance costs. For example, proposed regulation related to greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide emissions, such as the cap and trade requirements, and potential revisions to the Toxic Control Substances Act, could materially and adversely impact our results of operations.

In addition, the discovery of contamination arising from historical industrial operations at some of our former and present properties has exposed us, and in the future may continue to expose us, to cleanup obligations and other damages. For example, soil and groundwater contamination is known to exist at several of our facilities. At December 31, 2010, we had approximately $49.8 million in reserves for estimated environmental liabilities and estimated the potential range of exposure for such liabilities to be between $49.8 million and $76.4 million.

Environmental Indemnities—We may be subject to environmental indemnity claims relating to properties we have divested.

The discovery of contamination arising from properties that we have divested may expose us to indemnity obligations under the sale agreements with the buyers of such properties or cleanup obligations and other damages under applicable environmental laws. For example, we have obligations to indemnify the buyers of several businesses of the former explosives segment of Dynamit Nobel for certain environmental matters. Under such sale agreements, these indemnities are not limited as to amount. In addition, we agreed to indemnify the buyers of our former Electronics business and our plastic compounding business for certain environmental liabilities, respectively, related to such businesses. We may not have adequate insurance coverage or cash flows to make such indemnity payments. Such payments may be costly and may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Product Liability—Due to the nature of our business and products, we may be liable for damages arising out of product liability claims.

The sale of our products involves the risk of product liability claims. For example, some of the chemicals or substances that are used in our businesses, such as arsenic pentoxide, have been alleged to represent potentially significant health and safety concerns. Class action suits have been filed in Louisiana, Florida and Arkansas, for example, naming one of our subsidiaries and a number of competitors of our Timber Treatment Chemicals business line, as well as treaters and retailers, as defendants. In addition, our subsidiary has been named as a defendant in personal injury suits in several jurisdictions with retailers and treaters named as other defendants. Furthermore, there are other similar suits pending against retailers, treaters and other formulators to which we may be eventually named as a defendant. These suits allege, among other things, product liability claims in connection with the use of timber products treated with CCA, which utilizes arsenic pentoxide as a raw material. For example, a subsidiary in our Advanced Ceramics

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segment has been named as a defendant in several product liability lawsuits in Europe relating to broken artificial hip joints, which allege negligent manufacturing by our subsidiary of ceramic components used in the production of artificial hip joints.

Also, because many of our products are integrated into our customers’ products, we may be requested to participate in or share in the costs of a product recall conducted by a customer. For example, some of our businesses, including those within our Specialty Chemicals and Advanced Ceramics segments, supply products to customers in the automotive industry. In the event one of these customers conducts a product recall that it believes is related to one of our products, we may be asked to participate in or fund in whole or in part such a recall.

We are unable to estimate our exposure, if any, to the above-mentioned lawsuits at this time. We may be subject to future claims with regard to these suits or others like them and we may not be able to avoid significant product liability exposure. A successful product liability claim or series of claims against us for which we are not otherwise indemnified or insured could materially increase our operating costs or prevent such operating subsidiary from satisfying its financial obligations. For example, for policies renewed on or after November 2002, our insurers excluded CCA from our insurance coverage under our general liability policies. We may not have sufficient cash flow from operations or assets to pay a judgment resulting from a product liability claim or product recall, if any, for which there is no or inadequate insurance coverage. Any such judgment or product recall could materially increase our operating costs or prevent such operating subsidiary from satisfying its financial obligations.

Product Liability—Due to the nature of our business and products, we may be liable for damages arising out of certain indemnity claims.

We may be subject to indemnity claims for product liability lawsuits relating to products we have sold. For example, our Timber Treatment Chemicals business has entered into indemnity agreements with various customers who purchased CCA-based wood protection products. Pursuant to those agreements, one of our subsidiaries agreed to defend and hold harmless those customers for certain causes of action, based on domestic mammalian, and in some cases, human toxicity, caused by our CCA-based wood protection products, subject to certain conditions. Our Timber Treatment Chemicals business, and several of our customers were named as defendants in several suits, including putative class actions, relating to CCA-based wood protection products. Our Timber Treatment Chemicals business has received and may in the future receive claims for indemnity from customers in connection with litigation relating to CCA-based wood protection products and may be required to pay indemnity claims under such agreements to one or more of its customers. If our Timber Treatment Chemicals business is required to pay one or more indemnity claims, insurance or indemnity arrangements from Evonik Degussa GmbH (the successor to Laporte, from which the specialty chemicals business lines that formed Rockwood in the KKR Acquisition were acquired) may not cover such claims and, if not, our subsidiary may not have sufficient free cash flow to pay such claims. We are unable to estimate our exposure, if any, to these claims and lawsuits at this time.

In addition, our Specialty Chemicals segment’s subsidiary that formerly manufactured sealants for insulating glass has been named as a defendant in several lawsuits relating to alleged negligent manufacturing of those products. Pursuant to the sale and purchase agreement with respect to the divested “glass” business, this subsidiary may be required to pay indemnity claims, mainly re-glazing costs. Our insurance may not cover such claims and, in such a case, our subsidiary may not have sufficient cash flow to pay these claims. One or more of these claims could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.

FDA Regulation—Some of our manufacturing processes and facilities, pharmaceutical customers and medical device customers are subject to regulation by the FDA or similar foreign agencies. These requirements could adversely affect our results of operations.

Regulatory requirements of the FDA are complex. Any failure to comply with them could subject us and/or our customers to fines, injunctions, civil penalties, lawsuits, recall or seizure of products, total or partial suspension of production, denial of government approvals, withdrawal of marketing approvals and criminal prosecution. Any of these actions could adversely impact our net sales, undermine goodwill established with our customers, damage commercial prospects for our products and materially adversely affect our results of operations.

The manufacture and supply of ceramic ball head and liner components for hip joint prostheses systems by our Advanced Ceramics segment may be subject to the FDA’s Quality System Regulation, which imposes current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements on the manufacture of medical devices. Certain lithium compounds manufactured by our Fine Chemicals business line of our Specialty Chemicals segment are also subject to FDA regulation.

In addition, medical device customers of our Advanced Ceramics segment to whom we supply our ceramic ball head and liner components are subject to FDA regulation, including premarket approval of their products and post market compliance requirements. The FDA may take three years or longer to grant premarket approval of our customers’ new products, if at all. At any time, our customers’ total hip prostheses systems may be withdrawn from the market either voluntarily by our customers or as a result of the FDA’s or a foreign equivalent’s withdrawal of marketing approval or removal of such products for a number of reasons including

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safety, current Good Manufacturing Practice or Quality System Regulation problems with our products or our customers’ final products. For example, a customer in our Advanced Ceramics segment initiated a voluntary recall in January 2008 of its hip implant system. Any such regulatory action could significantly limit our net sales generated by our Advanced Ceramics segment and may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Competition—Our industry is highly competitive. The end-use markets in which we compete are also highly competitive. This competition may adversely affect our results of operations.

We face significant competition from major international producers as well as smaller regional competitors. Our most significant competitors include major chemicals and materials manufacturers and diversified companies, a number of which have revenues and capital resources exceeding ours. In addition, there is increasing competition from market participants in China.

Within the end-use markets in which we compete, competition between products is intense. Substitute products also exist for many of our products. Therefore, we face substantial risk that certain events, such as new product development by our competitors, changing customer needs, production advances for competing products, price changes in raw materials and products, our failure to secure patents or the expiration of patents, could result in declining demand for our products as our customers switch to substitute products or undertake manufacturing of such products on their own. If we are unable to develop, produce or market our products to effectively compete against our competitors, our results of operations may materially suffer.

We believe that our customers are increasingly looking for strong, long-term relationships with a few key suppliers that help them improve product performance, reduce costs, or support new product development. To satisfy these growing customer requirements, our competitors have been consolidating within product lines through mergers and acquisitions. We may also need to invest and spend more on research and development and marketing costs to strengthen existing customer relationships, as well as attract new customers. As a result, our debt level could limit our flexibility to react to these industry trends and our ability to remain competitive.

Product Innovation—If we are not able to continue our technological innovation and successful commercial introduction of new products, our profitability could be adversely affected.

Our industries and the end-use markets into which we sell our products experience periodic technological change and product improvement. Manufacturers periodically introduce new generations of products or require new technological capacity to develop customized products. Our future growth will depend on our ability to gauge the direction of the commercial and technological progress in all key end-use markets and upon our ability to fund and successfully develop, manufacture and market products in such changing end-use markets. We will have to continue to identify, develop, market and in certain cases, secure regulatory approval for innovative products on a timely basis to replace or enhance existing products in order to maintain our profit margins and our competitive position. We may not be successful in developing new products and/or technology, either alone or with third parties, or licensing intellectual property rights from third parties on a commercially competitive basis. Our new products may not be accepted by our customers or may fail to receive regulatory approval. If we fail to keep pace with the evolving technological innovations in our end-use markets on a competitive basis, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Dependence on Intellectual Property—If our intellectual property were copied by competitors, or if they were to develop similar intellectual property independently, our results of operations could be negatively affected.

Our success depends to a significant degree upon our ability to protect and preserve our intellectual property rights, which rights we own or use pursuant to licenses granted to us by third parties. The confidentiality and patent assignment agreements we enter into with most of our key employees and third parties to protect the confidentiality, ownership and use of intellectual property may be breached, may not be enforceable, or may provide for joint ownership or ownership by a third party. In addition, we may not have adequate remedies for a breach by the other party, which could adversely affect our intellectual property rights. The use of our intellectual property rights or intellectual property similar to ours by others or our failure to protect such rights could reduce or eliminate any competitive advantage we have developed, adversely affecting our net sales. If we must sue to protect, defend or enforce our intellectual property rights, any suits or proceedings could result in significant costs and diversion of company resources and management attention, and we may not prevail in such action. We are periodically involved in actions related to misappropriation of our intellectual property by former employees. In addition, when our patents expire, competitors or new market entrants may manufacture products substantially similar to our products previously protected by a patent.

We conduct research and development activities with third parties and license certain intellectual property rights from third parties and we plan to continue to do so in the future. For example, in our Timber Treatment Chemicals business, we commercialized Ecolife, our next generation timber treatment preservative from our Timber Treatment Chemicals business, through our joint venture with Rohm and Haas Company (a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company). We endeavor to license or otherwise obtain intellectual property rights on terms favorable to us. However, we may not be able to license or otherwise obtain intellectual property rights on such terms or at all. Our inability to license or otherwise obtain such intellectual property rights could have a material adverse effect on our ability

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to create a competitive advantage and create innovative solutions for our customers, which will adversely affect our net sales and our relationships with our customers.

The steps we take to protect our intellectual property may not provide us with any competitive advantage and may be challenged by third parties. We have been subject to oppositions of our patents and trademarks by third parties before regulatory bodies in certain jurisdictions. Our failure to defend these patents or registered trademarks may limit our ability to protect the intellectual property rights that these applications were intended to cover. In addition, a failure to obtain and defend our trademark registrations may impede our marketing and branding efforts and competitive position. A failure to protect our intellectual property rights could have a material adverse effect on demand for our products and our net sales.

Risk of Intellectual Property Litigation—Our products or processes may infringe the intellectual property rights of others, which may cause us to pay unexpected litigation costs or damages or prevent us from selling our products.

Although it is our intention to avoid infringing or otherwise violating the intellectual property rights of others, our processes and products may infringe or otherwise violate the intellectual property rights of others. We may be subject to legal proceedings and claims, including claims of alleged infringement by us or our licensees of the patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights of third parties. Intellectual property litigation is expensive and time-consuming, regardless of the merits of any claim, and could divert our management’s attention from operating our businesses. If we were to discover or be notified that our processes or products potentially infringe or otherwise violate the intellectual property rights of others, we may need to obtain licenses from these parties or substantially re-engineer our products and processes in order to avoid infringement. We might not be able to obtain the necessary licenses on acceptable terms, or at all, or be able to re-engineer our products successfully. Moreover, if we are sued for infringement and lose the suit, we could be required to pay substantial damages and/or be enjoined from using or selling the infringing products or technology. Any of the foregoing could cause us to incur significant costs and prevent us from selling our products.

International Operations—As a global business, we are exposed to local business risks in different countries which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

We have significant operations in many countries, including manufacturing facilities, research and development facilities, sales personnel and customer support operations. Currently, we operate, or others operate on our behalf, facilities in countries such as Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, India, Malaysia, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey. Of our total net sales in 2010 of $3,191.6 million, approximately 76% were generated by shipments to customers in countries outside North America. Our operations are affected directly and indirectly by global regulatory, economic and political conditions, including:

·            new and different legal and regulatory requirements in local jurisdictions;

·            managing and obtaining support and distribution for local operations;

·            increased costs of, and availability of, transportation or shipping;

·            credit risk and financial conditions of local customers and distributors;

·             potential difficulties in protecting intellectual property;

·             risk of nationalization of private enterprises by foreign governments;

·            potential imposition of restrictions on investments;

·            potentially adverse tax consequences, including imposition or increase of withholding and other taxes on remittances and other payments by subsidiaries;

·            capital controls; and

·            local political, economic and social conditions, including the possibility of hyperinflationary conditions and political instability in certain countries.

In addition, our facilities may be targets of terrorist activities that could result in full or partial disruption of the activities of such facilities. We may not succeed in developing and implementing policies and strategies to counter the foregoing factors effectively in each location where we do business. Our failure to do so could limit our ability to sell products, compete or receive payments for products sold in such locations.

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Furthermore, our subsidiaries are subject to rules and regulations of the United States, such as anti-bribery prohibitions and export controls and economic embargos, violations of which may carry substantial penalties. For example, export control and economic embargo regulations limit the ability of our subsidiaries to market, sell, distribute or otherwise transfer their products or technology to prohibited countries or persons. Failure to comply with these regulations could subject our subsidiaries to fines, enforcement actions and/or have an adverse effect on our reputation. In addition, we are subject to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 and the cost of compliance may impact our results of operations.

Retention of Key Personnel—If we lose certain key personnel or are unable to hire additional qualified personnel, we may not be able to execute our business strategy.

Our success depends, in part, upon the continued services of our highly skilled personnel involved in management, research, production, sales and distribution, and, in particular, upon the efforts and abilities of our executive officers and key employees. Although we believe that we are adequately staffed in key positions and that we will be successful in retaining key personnel, we may not be able to retain such personnel on acceptable terms or at all. Furthermore, if we lose the service of any executive officers or key employees, we may not be able to execute our business strategy. We do not have key-person life insurance covering any of our employees.

Relations with Employees—We are subject to stringent labor and employment laws in certain jurisdictions in which we operate, and our relationship with our employees could deteriorate, which could adversely impact our operations.

A majority of our full-time employees are employed outside the United States, particularly in Germany where many of our businesses are located. In certain jurisdictions where we operate, particularly in Germany, labor and employment laws are relatively stringent and, in many cases, grant significant job protection to certain employees, including rights on termination of employment. In addition, in certain countries where we operate, including Germany, our employees are members of unions or are represented by a works council as required by law. We are often required to consult and seek the consent or advice of these unions and/or respective works’ councils. These regulations and laws coupled with the requirement to consult with the relevant unions or works’ councils could significantly limit our flexibility in managing costs and responding to market changes.

Furthermore, with respect to our employees that are subject to collective bargaining arrangements or similar arrangements (approximately 33% of our full-time employees as of February 1, 2011), we may not be able to negotiate labor agreements on satisfactory terms and actions by our employees may disrupt our business. If these workers were to engage in a strike, work stoppage or other slowdown, we could experience a significant disruption of our operations and/or higher ongoing labor costs. In addition, if our other employees were to become unionized, we could experience a significant disruption of our operations and/or higher ongoing labor costs.

Tax Liabilities—If GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft (formerly known as mg technologies ag) or Degussa UK Holdings, Ltd. fail to satisfy their contractual obligations, we may be subject to increased tax exposure resulting from pre-acquisition periods.

Under the terms of certain purchase agreements, third party sellers have agreed to substantially indemnify us for tax liabilities pertaining to the pre-acquisition periods. To the extent such companies fail to indemnify or satisfy their obligations, or if any amount is not covered by the terms of the indemnity, earnings could be negatively impacted in future periods through increased tax expense.

Net Loss—We have experienced losses in the past and may experience losses in the future and cannot be certain that our net operating loss carryforwards will continue to be available to offset our tax liability.

We have incurred net losses in the past and we may incur net losses in the future. As of December 31, 2010, we had deferred tax assets of $162.6 million related to worldwide net operating and capital loss carryforwards. Additionally, at December 31, 2010, we had a total valuation allowance of $81.4 million. If our operating performance deteriorates in the future in certain tax jurisdictions, we may be unable to realize these net operating loss carryforwards and we may be required to record an additional valuation allowance.

Anticipated Capital Expenditures—Our required capital expenditures may exceed our estimates.

Our capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2010 were $180.3 million, which consisted of expenditures to maintain and improve existing equipment and substantial investments in new equipment. Capital expenditures for 2011 are expected to be above 2010 levels. However, future capital expenditures may be significantly higher, depending on the investment requirements of each of our business lines, and may also vary substantially if we are required to undertake actions to compete with new technologies in our industry. We may not have the capital necessary to undertake these capital investments. If we are unable to do so, we may not be able to effectively compete in some of our markets.

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Control—A conflict may arise between our interests and those of KKR.

Affiliates of KKR own approximately 20.9% of the common stock as of December 31, 2010 of our ultimate parent, Rockwood Holdings, Inc. on an undiluted basis. Although affiliates of KKR no longer hold a majority of Holdings’ outstanding common stock, they continue to have a significant impact on the vote in any election of directors. In addition, representatives of KKR occupy two of the seven seats on Holdings’ board of directors. As a result, even though representatives of KKR do not occupy a majority of the seats on Holdings’ board of directors, affiliates of KKR have substantial influence over our decisions to enter into any corporate transaction and whether any transaction that requires the approval of the stockholders is approved. Additionally, KKR is in the business of making investments in companies and may from time to time acquire and hold interests in businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us. They may also pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to our business, and as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 2. Properties.

We have global operations, serving customers worldwide. To service our customers efficiently, we maintain 81 manufacturing facilities in 23 countries around the world with a strategy of global, regional and local manufacturing to optimize our service offering and minimize production cost to our customers. We believe these facilities are suitable and adequate for their intended use. The table below presents summary information with respect to these facilities:

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(1)                This facility is shared by both business divisions of the Specialty Chemicals segment.

(2)                This facility is shared by both the Performance Additives segment and the Titanium Dioxide Pigments segment.

(3)                This facility is shared by the two business divisions of the Titanium Dioxide Pigments segment.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

We are involved in legal proceedings from time to time in the ordinary course of our business, including with respect to product

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liability, intellectual property and environmental matters. In addition, we may be required to make indemnity payments in connection with certain product liability and environmental claims. See Item 1, “Business,” and Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” “Environmental Indemnities—We may be subject to environmental indemnity claims relating to properties we have divested”; “Product Liability— Due to the nature of our business and products, we may be liable for damages arising out of product liability claims”; and “Product Liability—Due to the nature of our business and products, we may be liable for damages arising out of certain indemnity claims.” However, we do not believe that there is any other individual, governmental, legal proceeding or arbitration that is likely to have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.  We cannot predict the outcome of any litigation or the potential for future litigation. See also Note 18, “Commitments and Contingencies.”

Advertising Matter

On March 3, 2009, Osmose, Inc. (“OI”) filed an action against Viance, the joint venture in the Timber Treatment Chemicals business, Rockwood Holdings, Inc., and certain individuals, in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, claiming that recent advertisements by Viance comparing its ACQ product and OI’s MCQ product were false and misleading in violation of the Lanham Act, constituted unfair competition, violated the Georgia Deceptive Trade Practices Act, were defamatory and that Viance tortiously interfered with OI’s business relationships. OI is seeking damages, including their attorney’s fees and costs and punitive damages. OI also sought a temporary restraining order (“TRO”) and a preliminary injunction prohibiting Viance from continuing to make certain claims in advertisements related to their MCQ product. On March 20, 2009, the district court granted Osmose’s motion for a TRO. Viance raised certain counterclaims related to OI’s advertisements and both parties’ claims were heard. In September 2009, the district court issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting Viance from making certain claims related to MCQ in its advertisements and denied Viance’s request for a preliminary injunction related to certain claims in Osmose’s advertisements, which Viance subsequently appealed. The U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit heard oral arguments on May 20, 2010 and rendered its decision on July 30, 2010 remanding in part, affirming in part, and vacating in part the preliminary injunction. The trial court entered an order revising the preliminary injunction and an order lifting the stay and commencing discovery. The Company reached a tentative settlement in March 2011 and does not believe the resolution of this matter will have a material adverse effect on its business or financial condition.

Lanxess Matter

On January 18, 2010, Lanxess Deutschland GmbH filed suit in the District Court of Satakunta, Finland against Sachtleben Pigments Oy (“Sachtleben”), a subsidiary of the Company’s Titanium Dioxide Pigments venture, claiming breach of contract in connection with Sachtleben’s termination of a supply agreement with plaintiff. In October 2010, the Court held a hearing to determine the proper jurisdiction for this matter and later issued its decision in favor of the plaintiff ruling that the case will be heard in the District Court of Satakunta and not in arbitration. In January 2011, Lanxess filed its statement specifying its claims for damages in the amount of €3.2 million plus accrued interest and legal fees. The Company will continue to vigorously defend this matter. The Company believes Sachtleben has meritorious defenses against the plaintiff’s claims. Although Sachtleben does not believe that resolution of this matter will have a material adverse effect on its business or financial condition, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this litigation, and the resolution of this matter may have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or cash flows in any quarterly or annual reporting period.

Inspector General Subpoena

In February 2010, a subsidiary of the Company received a subpoena from the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (“DOD”) seeking information related to a product in the Timber Treatment Chemicals business in the Performance Additives segment. This subsidiary has and will continue to comply with the request of the DOD to provide the relevant information. The Company cannot predict the likelihood of further legal action or estimate the loss or possible range of loss, if any, in connection with this matter.

Item 4. (Removed and Reserved).

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

All of our common stock is owned by our parent company, Rockwood Specialties International, Inc. There is no established public trading market for our common stock. We did not declare dividends on our common stock during the past three fiscal years. Our ability to pay dividends on our common stock is restricted by our senior secured credit facilities, indenture governing the 2014 Notes and certain other agreements governing our indebtedness. See Note 11, “Long-Term Debt,” for further details. Any determination to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of Holdings’ board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that our board of

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directors may deem relevant. See further discussion in liquidity section of Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”  For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company did not pay any cash dividends.

There were no repurchases of any of the Company’s common stock by or on behalf of the Company during the fourth quarter of 2010 and no sales of unregistered equity securities by the Company during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

The following selected consolidated financial data of the Company’s five most recent years ended December 31, 2010 should be read in conjunction with Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” The Statement of Operations data set forth below with respect to the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 and the Balance Sheet data as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, are derived from the Company’s audited financial statements included elsewhere in this document. The Statement of Operations data for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 and the Balance Sheet data as of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 are derived from audited consolidated financial statements not included herein. All periods presented have been reclassified to account for the sale of the Groupe Novasep segment and the Electronics business sold, excluding the European wafer reclaim business, in 2007, the sale of the pool and spa chemicals business in 2008 and the sale of the plastic compounding business in January 2011 as discontinued operations.

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