DuPont Sheds Glass Laminating Unit for $543M

DuPont (NYSE:DD) said Thursday it reached a $543 million deal to sell its glass laminating and vinyls unit to chemicals company Kuraray, as the diversified manufacturer turns its attention to growing businesses.

The unit makes sheets for safety glass and polyvinyl alcohol products used by the auto industry and other sectors.

According to DuPont, the business has six manufacturing sites and roughly 600 employees. Sales totaled more than $500 million in 2012.

DuPont expects the transaction to be completed in the first half of next year.

Last month, the company announced a spinoff of its performance chemicals business that supplies materials used in house paints and other products. Earlier in the year, it closed a $4.9 billion deal to sell its performance coatings unit, which makes paint used in the auto industry, to Carlyle Group (NASDAQ:CG).

Shares rose 30 cents to $61.09 in late morning trading.