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Borealis restructures R&D
F O C U S tonne/y LDPE plant to be constructed by Techimont at Daqing, China, by 2004. The technology is already used by Shell in Nanhai and by BASF in Nanking. Macplas, Dec 2002, 27 (244), 20 (in Italian)
Borealis restructures R&D The Scandinavian plastics producer Borealis is to fundamentally reorganize its R&D activities. The aim is to accelerate the creation of innovations and at the same time to achieve substantial cost reductions. It is thought that around one quarter of ‘technical resources’ may no longer be necessary, though it is not certain whether one quarter of all research workers are also superfluous. Less interesting areas of research will be discontinued and the remaining areas will be concentrated at four centres of innovation. At Porvoo, Finland, the focus will be on catalysis and new processes; the laboratory for the company’s Borstar technology for the production of polyolefins is also housed here. Chemisch2Weekblad, 22 Jan 2003 (Website: http://www.c2w.nl/) (in Dutch)
Chemopetrol sells catalysts production to Eurosupport Chemopetrol (Litvinov, Czech Republic), petrochemical company has sold its catalysts production to Eurosupport Manufacturing Czechia (EMC) (Czech Republic). EMC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eurosupport (The Netherlands), which specialises in catalysts production. The value of the contract was not specified. Chemopetrol sold this business because its was outside its core activities. EMC co-operated with Chemopetrol in catalysts production for six years and operated the firm’s catalysts unit under an agreement. It invested CEK 17.5 M in its modernisation. It plans to invest other dozens of millions of CEK in the next few years to raise production from the current about 700 tonne/y to at least 1,700 tonne/y in 2008. In 2003 EMC expects proceeds of CEK 160 M. By 2006 it estimates to generate a turnover of CEK 300 M. Hospodarske Noviny, 10 Feb 2003, 47 (28), 22 (in Czech)
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Codexis and Eli Lilly to cooperate on fermentation Maxygen’s subsidiary Codexis and Eli Lilly have begun a partnership which will last for several years and will focus on developing new fermentation production processes for making some of Lilly’s drugs. Under the terms of their agreement, Codexis will receive milestone payments and royalties in return for allowing Lilly to use its catalyst and product development platform. Chimie Hebdo, 27 Jan 2003, (200), 12 (in French)
Genencor to acquire Rhodia’s enzymes Rhodia has agreed to sell its €17 M/y brewing and enzymes business to Genencor International for around €9 M. Technology, product lines, and personnel are included in the deal. A production plant at Stockport, UK, is excluded. Rhodia intends to focus on food additives. The deal follows Genencor’s acquisition of Enzyme Bio-Systems from Corn Products International during 2002. The global market for enzymes is currently worth around $600-700 M/y. Early in 2002 Rhodia set itself a target of raising €500 M from divestments. Chemical Week, 15 Jan 2003, 165 (2), 13 & European Chemical News, 13 Jan 2003, 78 (2035), 34 & Chemical Market Reporter, 13 Jan 2003 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chimie Hebdo, 13 Jan 2003, (198), 10 (in French) & La Tribune Desfosses, 7 Jan 2003, (24.465-2569), 9 (in French) & Chemische Rundschau, 14 Jan 2003, 56 (1), 9 (in German)
Johnson Matthey 1H 2002: Financial highlights For 1H 2002 (ends 30 Sep 2002), Johnson Matthey plc has reported sales of £2246.6 M (2647 M in 1H 2001), operating profit of £94.5 M (£99.2 M), net profit of £62 M (62 M), and EPS of 0.307 (0.295). Good growth from Catalysts & Chemicals with profits up 7% to £48.3 M despite adverse exchange translation. Acquisition of Synetix for £260 M will substantially strengthen Johnson Matthey’s position in the global catalyst market and provides significant new opportunities for growth. The first phase of the fuel cell component factory in Swindon is complete. Precious Metals’ profits were reduced by 13% to £25.4 M as a
result of lower average prices and subdued trading conditions for palladium and rhodium. Platinum demand remains strong. Johnson Matthey HY Results 2002, 28 Nov 2002, 1,12 (Johnson Matthey Plc, 2-4 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, London, SW1Y 5BQ. UK. Tel: +44 20 7269 8400. Fax: +44 20 7269 8433. Website: http://www.matthey.com)
Johnson Matthey 1H 2002: Report to shareholders – business developments A detailed business overview of developments at Johnson Matthey plc in 1H 2002 (ends 30 Sep 2002). Catalysts & Chemicals Division has continued to perform well and has seen a number of important developments in the first half. Growing concerns that emissions from diesel engines can cause health problems are driving more city governments to require the retrofit of emission control systems to buses and trucks. Johnson Matthey’s patented continuously regenerating trap (CRT) continues to win most of this growing business. The first signs are also emerging that US car manufacturers will follow the European trend by beginning to fit diesel engines into light duty vehicles in order to meet fuel consumption targets and reduce US dependence on oil imports. These are positive trends for Johnson Matthey’s business as the company has a strong position in both light and heavy duty diesel technology. On 23 Sep 2002 the company announced that Johnson Matthey had agreed to buy the Synetix division of ICI for £260 M in cash. Synetix is a global catalyst business which serves a range of market segments including ammonia, methanol, fine chemicals, edible oils, oleochemicals, oil and gas, and polymerisation. These activities, which mainly use base metal catalysts, complement Johnson Matthey’s strong position in precious metal process catalysts for a wide range of markets. The catalyst industry is consolidating and Synetix is an excellent fit with Johnson Matthey’s Chemicals business, elevating Johnson Matthey to a strong second position in the global catalyst market. Johnson Matthey HY Results 2002, 28 Nov 2002, 810 (Johnson Matthey Plc, 2-4 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, London, SW1Y 5BQ. UK. Tel: +44 20 7269 8400. Fax: +44 20 7269 8433. Website: http://www.matthey.com)
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Borealis restructures R&D The Scandinavian plastics producer Borealis is to fundamentally reorganize its R&D activities. The aim is to accelerate the creation of innovations and at the same time to achieve substantial cost reductions. It is thought that around one quarter of ‘technical resources’ may no longer be necessary, though it is not certain whether one quarter of all research workers are also superfluous. Less interesting areas of research will be discontinued and the remaining areas will be concentrated at four centres of innovation. At Porvoo, Finland, the focus will be on catalysis and new processes; the laboratory for the company’s Borstar technology for the production of polyolefins is also housed here. Chemisch2Weekblad, 22 Jan 2003 (Website: http://www.c2w.nl/) (in Dutch)
Chemopetrol sells catalysts production to Eurosupport Chemopetrol (Litvinov, Czech Republic), petrochemical company has sold its catalysts production to Eurosupport Manufacturing Czechia (EMC) (Czech Republic). EMC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eurosupport (The Netherlands), which specialises in catalysts production. The value of the contract was not specified. Chemopetrol sold this business because its was outside its core activities. EMC co-operated with Chemopetrol in catalysts production for six years and operated the firm’s catalysts unit under an agreement. It invested CEK 17.5 M in its modernisation. It plans to invest other dozens of millions of CEK in the next few years to raise production from the current about 700 tonne/y to at least 1,700 tonne/y in 2008. In 2003 EMC expects proceeds of CEK 160 M. By 2006 it estimates to generate a turnover of CEK 300 M. Hospodarske Noviny, 10 Feb 2003, 47 (28), 22 (in Czech)
MARCH 2003
O N
C ATA LY S T S
Codexis and Eli Lilly to cooperate on fermentation Maxygen’s subsidiary Codexis and Eli Lilly have begun a partnership which will last for several years and will focus on developing new fermentation production processes for making some of Lilly’s drugs. Under the terms of their agreement, Codexis will receive milestone payments and royalties in return for allowing Lilly to use its catalyst and product development platform. Chimie Hebdo, 27 Jan 2003, (200), 12 (in French)
Genencor to acquire Rhodia’s enzymes Rhodia has agreed to sell its €17 M/y brewing and enzymes business to Genencor International for around €9 M. Technology, product lines, and personnel are included in the deal. A production plant at Stockport, UK, is excluded. Rhodia intends to focus on food additives. The deal follows Genencor’s acquisition of Enzyme Bio-Systems from Corn Products International during 2002. The global market for enzymes is currently worth around $600-700 M/y. Early in 2002 Rhodia set itself a target of raising €500 M from divestments. Chemical Week, 15 Jan 2003, 165 (2), 13 & European Chemical News, 13 Jan 2003, 78 (2035), 34 & Chemical Market Reporter, 13 Jan 2003 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chimie Hebdo, 13 Jan 2003, (198), 10 (in French) & La Tribune Desfosses, 7 Jan 2003, (24.465-2569), 9 (in French) & Chemische Rundschau, 14 Jan 2003, 56 (1), 9 (in German)
Johnson Matthey 1H 2002: Financial highlights For 1H 2002 (ends 30 Sep 2002), Johnson Matthey plc has reported sales of £2246.6 M (2647 M in 1H 2001), operating profit of £94.5 M (£99.2 M), net profit of £62 M (62 M), and EPS of 0.307 (0.295). Good growth from Catalysts & Chemicals with profits up 7% to £48.3 M despite adverse exchange translation. Acquisition of Synetix for £260 M will substantially strengthen Johnson Matthey’s position in the global catalyst market and provides significant new opportunities for growth. The first phase of the fuel cell component factory in Swindon is complete. Precious Metals’ profits were reduced by 13% to £25.4 M as a
result of lower average prices and subdued trading conditions for palladium and rhodium. Platinum demand remains strong. Johnson Matthey HY Results 2002, 28 Nov 2002, 1,12 (Johnson Matthey Plc, 2-4 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, London, SW1Y 5BQ. UK. Tel: +44 20 7269 8400. Fax: +44 20 7269 8433. Website: http://www.matthey.com)
Johnson Matthey 1H 2002: Report to shareholders – business developments A detailed business overview of developments at Johnson Matthey plc in 1H 2002 (ends 30 Sep 2002). Catalysts & Chemicals Division has continued to perform well and has seen a number of important developments in the first half. Growing concerns that emissions from diesel engines can cause health problems are driving more city governments to require the retrofit of emission control systems to buses and trucks. Johnson Matthey’s patented continuously regenerating trap (CRT) continues to win most of this growing business. The first signs are also emerging that US car manufacturers will follow the European trend by beginning to fit diesel engines into light duty vehicles in order to meet fuel consumption targets and reduce US dependence on oil imports. These are positive trends for Johnson Matthey’s business as the company has a strong position in both light and heavy duty diesel technology. On 23 Sep 2002 the company announced that Johnson Matthey had agreed to buy the Synetix division of ICI for £260 M in cash. Synetix is a global catalyst business which serves a range of market segments including ammonia, methanol, fine chemicals, edible oils, oleochemicals, oil and gas, and polymerisation. These activities, which mainly use base metal catalysts, complement Johnson Matthey’s strong position in precious metal process catalysts for a wide range of markets. The catalyst industry is consolidating and Synetix is an excellent fit with Johnson Matthey’s Chemicals business, elevating Johnson Matthey to a strong second position in the global catalyst market. Johnson Matthey HY Results 2002, 28 Nov 2002, 810 (Johnson Matthey Plc, 2-4 Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, London, SW1Y 5BQ. UK. Tel: +44 20 7269 8400. Fax: +44 20 7269 8433. Website: http://www.matthey.com)
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