 At the same time, Imerys acquired from Alleghany Corp. the U.S. company "World Minerals Inc.", a leading producer of diatomaceous earth and perlite.Since 1997, the company has transformed into a specialist of specialty minerals, under the impetus first of Patrick Kron, who has since become the chief of Alstom, and then Gérard Buffière.Active in 50 countries with more than 250 industrial locations, Imerys operates about 130 mines and extracts 30 different minerals or families of minerals.