CMAI holds inaugural Latin American plastics, petrochemical conference

Rappaport told PlasticsToday that despite the change in ownership, day-to-day operations at the company have thus far been unaffected. "At this point, it really is business as usual," Rappaport said. "Over time, there will be some integration."

The event, the Latin American Petrochemicals & Polymers Conference (LAPPC), was held in conjunction with the Brazilian plastics industry association, ABIPLAST, at the Holiday Inn hotel adjoining the Anhembi exposition center in São Paulo, Brazil. The conference ran on the second day of the weeklong Brasilplast taking place next door at the Anhembi.

CMAI has kept up a steady profile in the region, regularly participating in the Latin American Petrochemical Annual Meeting (APLA) and maintaining a close business relationship with Intellichem, a petrochemical consulting firm focused on Latin America. Last year, CMAI also participated in a conference held in conjunction with the food and beverage, logistics and packaging event in Brazil, FISPAL. While there are no definitive dates set for a Latin American event in 2012, Rappaport said that "ultimately an annual event in Latin America would be desirable."

David Pendery, senior director media relations and external communications for IHS, told PlasticsToday that his company would not be disclosing financial terms of the acquisition or integration plans, since they are ongoing at this point. Pendery did say IHS has been working in the petrochemicals market for a long time, with CMAI being its second acquisition in the space, following the purchase of several chemical assets from Access Intelligence in September 2010.

"IHS is a very patient but active acquirer," Pendery said, noting that his company has made more than 30 strategic acquisitions in various industries since 2007, spending more than $1.3 billion in the process.