Morgan Stanley PE invests in China's Tianhe Chemicals

Morgan Stanley’s Asian private equity arm is set to invest $300 million in Tianhe Chemicals, a specialist chemicals company in China with ambitions to expand overseas.

In addition, Homer Sun, chief investment officer of Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia, will join the company’s board.

Tianhe is China’s biggest producer of lubricant oil additives, and a global producer of specialist fluorochemicals often used in chemical waterproofing. Established in 1992 in Jinzhou, Liaoning Province, Tianhe employs more than 1,200 people in three manufacturing bases. But now it’s looking to become a bigger player, and bringing in private equity will provide the expertise to realise that ambition.