CARBIDE <UK> LOOKS TO ACQUISITIONS FOR GROWTH Union Carbide Corp is looking to acquisitions and joint ventures to aid its chemicals and plastics growth, according the H.W. Lichtenberger, president of Chemicals and Plastics. Describing this as a major departure in the company's approach to commercial development, he told the annual new business forum of the Commercial Development Association "We are looking to acquisitions and joint ventures when they look like the fastest and most promising routes to the growth markets we've identified." Not very long ago Union Carbide had the attitude "that if we couldn't do it ourselves, it wasn't worth doing. Or, if it was worth doing, we had to go it alone," Lichtenberger explained. He said "there are times when exploiting a profitable market is done best with a partner. Nor do we see any need to plow resources into a technology we may not have if we can link up profitably with someone who is already there." He said Carbide has extended its catalyst business that way and is now extending its specialty chemicals business in the same way.