The move will also facilitate the ongoing sale of its Greatham plant, which remains idled during the process.
Venator Materials UK Limited, part of the global Venator group which specializes in titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigments and performance additives, has been placed into administration. Mark Firmin, Jonny Marston, and Helen Skeates of Alvarez & Marsal were appointed Joint Administrators on October 22, 2025, following earlier administration filings by the parent company, Venator Materials plc, and two other non-trading holding companies.
The administration, affecting the company’s three North East England sites, including the key TiO2 pigment plant in Greatham, comes as a direct consequence of sustained financial pressures and what has been described as a "prolonged downturn" in the global titanium dioxide manufacturing sector, coupled with increased competition and rising operational costs.
The immediate impact has been severe for the workforce, with 273 employees made redundant immediately upon the administrators' appointment. This decision, driven by the company's precarious financial position, was described as difficult by the Venator leadership. However, 232 employees have been retained to assist the Joint Administrators in managing the administration process and safely maintaining the idled Greatham plant.
The core focus of the administration is to progress the previously announced sale of the Greatham site and associated TiO2 assets. Venator Materials UK Limited announced on October 16, 2025, that an Asset Purchase Agreement had been signed with an unnamed buyer (identified in public records as LB Group, a prominent Chinese TiO2 manufacturer). The administrators plan to keep the Greatham plant in an idle state until the sale is completed, which is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Regulators have been engaged to ensure the safe operation of the idled site during this period.
Mark Firmin, Joint Administrator and Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal, commented on the situation, stating, “Venator Group has been severely impacted by increased competition and rising costs in recent months. Over the coming period, we will be working closely with the retained staff to safely maintain the site in an idle state while we progress the sale of the Greatham plant.”
Karen Askwith, Managing Director at Venator, underscored that the administration was a "decisive action to protect stakeholder interests," noting that despite extensive efforts to stabilize the UK business, administration was the "most responsible path forward." She added, “It allows us to preserve value and create the conditions necessary for a potential future recovery under new ownership.”
Venator, headquartered in Wynyard, U.K., is a global firm that markets a broad range of pigments and additives globally. The administration of the UK operating company is a significant step in the wider group's restructuring efforts amidst a challenging market for its primary product.
