British group LAPORTE (turnover £906.6 million in 1999, including 382 million in fine chemicals) is planning to sell three fifths of its activities for the sum of $1.18 billion to the investment fund, KKR - KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS & CO, in order to specialise in fine chemicals. The divisions concerned are for pigments, additives, timber treatment, electronics, water treatment and compounds.