GEO Specialty Chemicals

GEO Specialty Chemicals knows that many niches can add up to a lot of market. The company makes about 300 specialty chemicals for niche markets such as water treatment, wire and cable manufacturing, construction, electronics, and oil and gas production. Its specialty additives improve the properties of concrete, gypsum wallboard, and plastics. GEO also produces performance chemicals (used in water treatment) and gallium (used in semiconductors for telecommunications equipment). GEO's strategy is to buy and build -- buy companies and then grow them organically. In 2011 GEO bought the Bisomer monomer and conventional contact lens business of Cognis UK from BASF. It also acquired Polymer Research Corporation.