HEALTH CARE
<i> Times Staff and Wire Reports</i>
Ciba Geigy to Buy 49.9% Stake in Hexcel: The Swiss chemical and pharmaceutical group will pay an undisclosed price for the Hexcel Corp. stake. After the acquisition, the Pleasanton, Calif.-based firm will combine with Ciba Geigy’s U.S.-based Composites Division, which includes composites, honeycomb and structures and interiors. The division had 1994 worldwide sales of $293 million. Both the Composites Division and Hexcel specialize in lightweight structural materials for the aerospace, commercial aircraft and other industries. Hexcel had 1994 sales of $313.8 million. It manufactures honeycomb, advanced composites and reinforced fabrics. Hexcel stock closed up 12.5 cents at $8 on the NYSE.
