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Cognis acquires Laporte UK subsidiary from Degussa
Additives for Polymers
antioxidant is claimed to be highly effective in a number of key areas, including low initial colour generation, greater melt flow control, minimal effect of gas fade phenomena, high temperature processing stability, and excellent property retention on long-term thermal ageing. Contact: Cytec Industries Inc, 5 Garret Mountain Plaza, West Paterson, NJ 07424, USA; tel: +1973-357-3100; fax: +1-973-357-3060
COMPANY STRATEGIES BASF increases capacity for waxes BASF has increased the capacity of its production facilities for waxes and wax emulsions at its Ludwigshafen site by 10 000 tonnes per year. The company reports that it now has a total production capacity of 45 000 tonnes per year. BASF says it intends to consolidate its position as market leader in Europe with this increase in capacity. The Performance Chemicals Division of BASF supplies a standard range of waxes and wax emulsions and speciality products, which are mainly employed as additives in the plastics industry and in coatings, printing inks and polishes. The world market for waxes and wax emulsions is growing at an annual rate of around 4%. BASF says it expects its sales to grow at a higher rate than the market. In other news, BASF has been ranked as the world’s “most admired chemical company” by the US business magazine Fortune in its latest annually published rankings. In a comparison of German companies across all industries, BASF was placed second. Contact: BASF AG, D-67065 Ludwigshafen, Germany; tel: +49-621-60-0; fax: +49-621-6042525; e-mail: [email protected]; URL: www.basf.de
Cognis acquires Laporte UK subsidiary from Degussa Speciality chemicals company Cognis is to acquire Laporte Performance Chemicals, a subsidiary of the former Laporte plc, which was purchased by
4
April 2003
Degussa AG in March 2001. The deal includes two production and development sites in the UK – at Hythe near Southampton and at Barry in South Wales – as well as several distribution companies. In the UK, Laporte Performance Chemicals manufactures hydroxy and multifunctional monomers for environmentally friendly paint systems and coatings, polyalkylene glycols for synthetic lubricants, as well as ester-based plastic additives, such as plasticizers, speciality intermediates and rubber chemicals. Steve Catchpole, general manager of Laporte Performance Chemicals, sees advantages for both sides from this acquisition: “On the one hand, our portfolio is very complementary to that of Cognis and we bring in our experience in the acrylate chemistry industry, and on the other hand we are benefiting from the global positioning of the Cognis Group and its ability to offer its customers complete solutions. That is the basis for establishing mutual and long-term success.” The 220-strong workforce at the Hythe and Barry operations generated sales totalling £64 million (approx. 95 million) in 2001. By selling the facilities, Degussa is complying with the last of the European Commission’s competition requirements regarding its acquisition of Laporte. For Cognis, the acquisition represents an important step in the strategic development of the company, not only strengthening its presence in the UK but expanding its portfolio in the areas of synthetic lubricants and coatings. Cognis says it is financing the acquisition without raising any additional debt. In fiscal 2002 Cognis achieved an operating result before depreciation and exceptional items of 393 million, an increase of 3.1% over the previous year. Sales for the year were 3.126 billion, level with 2001, despite the difficult economic environment and negative influence of the dollar exchange-rate. Contact: Cognis Deutschland, Henkelstraße 67, D-40589 Düsseldorf, Germany; tel: +49-211794-00; fax: +49-211-798-4008; URL: www.cognis.com Degussa AG, Karl-Arnold-Platz 1a, D-40474 Düsseldorf, Germany; tel: +49-211-65041-0; fax: +49-211-65041-555
antioxidant is claimed to be highly effective in a number of key areas, including low initial colour generation, greater melt flow control, minimal effect of gas fade phenomena, high temperature processing stability, and excellent property retention on long-term thermal ageing. Contact: Cytec Industries Inc, 5 Garret Mountain Plaza, West Paterson, NJ 07424, USA; tel: +1973-357-3100; fax: +1-973-357-3060
COMPANY STRATEGIES BASF increases capacity for waxes BASF has increased the capacity of its production facilities for waxes and wax emulsions at its Ludwigshafen site by 10 000 tonnes per year. The company reports that it now has a total production capacity of 45 000 tonnes per year. BASF says it intends to consolidate its position as market leader in Europe with this increase in capacity. The Performance Chemicals Division of BASF supplies a standard range of waxes and wax emulsions and speciality products, which are mainly employed as additives in the plastics industry and in coatings, printing inks and polishes. The world market for waxes and wax emulsions is growing at an annual rate of around 4%. BASF says it expects its sales to grow at a higher rate than the market. In other news, BASF has been ranked as the world’s “most admired chemical company” by the US business magazine Fortune in its latest annually published rankings. In a comparison of German companies across all industries, BASF was placed second. Contact: BASF AG, D-67065 Ludwigshafen, Germany; tel: +49-621-60-0; fax: +49-621-6042525; e-mail: [email protected]; URL: www.basf.de
Cognis acquires Laporte UK subsidiary from Degussa Speciality chemicals company Cognis is to acquire Laporte Performance Chemicals, a subsidiary of the former Laporte plc, which was purchased by
4
April 2003
Degussa AG in March 2001. The deal includes two production and development sites in the UK – at Hythe near Southampton and at Barry in South Wales – as well as several distribution companies. In the UK, Laporte Performance Chemicals manufactures hydroxy and multifunctional monomers for environmentally friendly paint systems and coatings, polyalkylene glycols for synthetic lubricants, as well as ester-based plastic additives, such as plasticizers, speciality intermediates and rubber chemicals. Steve Catchpole, general manager of Laporte Performance Chemicals, sees advantages for both sides from this acquisition: “On the one hand, our portfolio is very complementary to that of Cognis and we bring in our experience in the acrylate chemistry industry, and on the other hand we are benefiting from the global positioning of the Cognis Group and its ability to offer its customers complete solutions. That is the basis for establishing mutual and long-term success.” The 220-strong workforce at the Hythe and Barry operations generated sales totalling £64 million (approx. 95 million) in 2001. By selling the facilities, Degussa is complying with the last of the European Commission’s competition requirements regarding its acquisition of Laporte. For Cognis, the acquisition represents an important step in the strategic development of the company, not only strengthening its presence in the UK but expanding its portfolio in the areas of synthetic lubricants and coatings. Cognis says it is financing the acquisition without raising any additional debt. In fiscal 2002 Cognis achieved an operating result before depreciation and exceptional items of 393 million, an increase of 3.1% over the previous year. Sales for the year were 3.126 billion, level with 2001, despite the difficult economic environment and negative influence of the dollar exchange-rate. Contact: Cognis Deutschland, Henkelstraße 67, D-40589 Düsseldorf, Germany; tel: +49-211794-00; fax: +49-211-798-4008; URL: www.cognis.com Degussa AG, Karl-Arnold-Platz 1a, D-40474 Düsseldorf, Germany; tel: +49-211-65041-0; fax: +49-211-65041-555