Global pharmaceutical and chemical company Merck has acquired Suzhou Taizhu Technology Development, a supplier of effect pigments located in the Yangtze port city of Taicang, Jiangsu province. With 2008 revenues of €14m and 300 employees, Taizhu is one of the largest effect pigments companies in China.

The acquisition will increase Merck’s presence in the value-for-money pigments sector. Merck is one of the world’s leading suppliers of effect pigments for the coatings, plastics, printing, cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries.