G.E.'s plastics division is busy meeting heavy demand from car factories and computer makers.

Three weeks ago, Tyco said it would split itself into four publicly traded companies and sell its plastics division.

Operating profits for Carbide's chemicals and plastics division were down 9.5 percent, to $285 million, from $312 million in the period a year earlier.

His father works in Lyon as the French industry marketing manager for the plastics division of General Electric.

The plastics division is still active, making 11.7% of total sales in 2009.

For 2006, the plastics division reported about $6.6 billion in revenue, virtually unchanged from the previous year.

Growth at home requires the entire plastics division to move to Geisenhausen.

In addition, Tyco plans to sell its plastics division to raise another $3 billion to $4 billion.

Rising costs for chemical feedstocks like benzene, and increased competition that is holding down prices, have squeezed profits at the plastics division.

For months, Mr. Immelt had declined to comment on growing speculation that he would sell the plastics division.