The parade of disposals by chemicals group, ICI, will now include the sale of its 49 per cent interest in Irish Fertilizer Industries, writes Sebastian Taylor from London. The sale will be undertaken in agreement with the Irish Government, which is the majority shareholder.

Last December, ICI sold its British fertilizer business for £200 million sterling to US combine, Terra Industries Inc, and the residual Irish Fertilizer stake has now become part of ICI's industrial chemicals sector. Although ICI declined to comment on the likely date of the Irish Fertilizer disposal, the group's long-term strategic plans envisage the disposal of the industrial chemicals division. 9982022