Norwalk’s Arch Chemicals Inc., awaiting its $1.4 billion merger with France’s Lonza Group AG, posted lower profits and flat sales, mostly of swimming-pool chemicals, in the second quarter.
Arch netted $37.4 million, or $1.47 a share, in three months ended June 30, down from $43.5 million, or $1.73 a share, earned the same period a year ago.
Second-quarter sales were $443.8 million vs. Â $441.4 million last year.
Arch officials said the company’s second quarter was impact by lower-expected results from its HTH-brand swimming pool stabilizers, sales of which were hurt by adverse weather mainly in the Northeast and Midwest.
Lonza, the world’s biggest maker of drug ingredients, agreed to buy Arch Chemicals, a maker of products that kill bacteria and fungi, agreed to pay $47.20 a share.
