HOPES are high that a buyout of one of Darwen’s biggest employers will safeguard jobs.
Acrylics manufacturer Lucite International, which operates the former ICI plant off Bolton Road, is set to be acquired by Japanese firm Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd for around £1billion.
Rumours had been circulating ahead of the deal with the 300 jobs at the Darwen plant under the spotlight.
With the deal yet to be sealed, no announcement on local jobs has been made, but Lucite bosses are hopeful the Japanese firm will use it to build a UK presence.
For Darwen councillor Tony Melia added: “With Mitsubishi not having a UK operation, I hope they will be coming here to expand and hopefully it will lead to job security or increased jobs in the area.”
Lucite was formed in 1993 by the merger of the acrylics companies DuPont and ICI.
A statement on Lucite’s website said the acqui-sition would make Mitsubishi Rayon the global leader in acrylics market.
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