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RAG acquires major shareholding in Degussa
F O C U S manufacture of flexible polyurethane slabstock foams. Chemical Market Reporter, 21 Jun 2004 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chemical Week, 16 Jun 2004, 166 (20) & Chemical and Engineering News, 21 Jun 2004, 82 (25), 10-11 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
Degussa to work with BRAIN Degussa is to work with the German biotechnology company BRAIN to develop enzymes for making speciality chemicals. BRAIN already has an archive of 140 million genes obtained from microorganisms. Chemical and Engineering News, 28 Jun 2004, 82 (26), 15 & European Chemical News, 28 Jun 2004, 80 (2106), 25 & Chemical Market Reporter, 28 Jun 2004 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
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Group Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Headwaters Inc, and Rentech have formed a 50:50 jv between the two companies to combine their respective iron-based FischerTropsch gas-to-liquids (GTL) technologies. The companies believe they can take full advantage of both parties’ GTL experience and proprietary intellectual properties as well as the clean coal technologies developed by Headwaters. Press release from: Rentech Inc, 1331, 17th Street, Suite 720, Denver, CO 80202, USA. Tel: +1 303 298 8008. Fax: +1 303 298 8010. Website: http://www.rentechinc.com (16 Jun 2004)
Ilika: new combinatorial chemistry startup
tax income by 37% to €158 M although sales decreased by 4% to €2.69 bn. European Chemical News, 7 Jun 2004, 80 (2103), 9
Rentech studies GTL plant in Wyoming The feasibility of a gas-to-liquids plant in Wyoming is to be studied by Rentech. The economic viability of a 10,000 tonne/y unit using coal-based Fischer-Tropsch technology for the production of ultra-low sulfur diesel will be considered. Coal feedstock requirements for a 10,000 tonne/y unit are estimated by Rentech at 3 M tonne/y. A state grant of $500,000 has been awarded to the project. European Chemical News, 14 Jun 2004, 80 (2104), 31
Great Lakes & Phoenix explore new catalyst applications for ruthenium BINAP Great Lakes Fine Chemicals (GLFC) has leased its patented ruthenium BINAP catalysts to Phoenix Chemicals to assist in developing of cost-effective processes for making pharmaceutical intermediates. Potential for producing chiral versions of derivatives through reduction of beta keto esters and olefinic esters will be explored. Website: http://www.glcc.com. Chimica Oggi, May 2004, 22 (5), 41
Another loss for Haldor Topsoe in 2003 In 2003 the Danish catalysts company Haldor Topsoe reported an operating loss of DKR 29 M, compared with a loss of DKR 138 M in 2002. Turnover was up 11% to DKR 2.3 bn. Whereas in the previous 4 years there had been a negative free cash flow, in 2003 there was a positive free cash flow of DKR 120 M as a result of reduced investments. 2003 was a difficult year for the company but positive signs in the market could form the basis for improvements in operating structure from 2004 onwards. Dagbladet Borsen, 1 Jun 2004, 109 (102), 6 (in Danish)
Headwaters and Rentech finalize GTL joint venture Rentech Inc announced that Headwaters Technology Innovation
AUGUST 2004
Ilika is a new combinatorial materials discovery firm created by the University of Southampton, UK, with finance from Sulis, a UK university seed fund, and the venture capital company, IP2IPO. The new company will be based on high-throughput techniques developed in the University’s chemistry department and will target applications in fuel cells, catalysts, piezoelectric materials, therapeutic materials, and pharmaceuticals. Chemical Week, 16 Jun 2004, 166 (20) (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
NE Chemcat enters VOC waste gas catalyst market Japanese company NE Chemcat plans to launch catalysts to treat VOC waste gases. There is a detailed discussion of the products and their applications. Japan Chemical Week, 17 Jun 2004, 45 (2274), 2
RAG acquires major shareholding in Degussa RAG, Essen, Germany, has increased its share in Degussa to 50.1% by buying shares from E.On for €3.9 bn. To finance the deal, RAG used €1.9 bn from the Ruhrgas sale and a €2 bn loan. The loan is to be repaid by the end of 2004 by divesting foreign coal mining and the plastics processing activities of its subsidiary Rütgers. In view of stock market conditions, E.On has decided not to float part of its 43% share in Degussa until 2005. Degussa increased its 1Q 2004 pre-
Rohm and Haas to develop new catalysts for acrylic acid polymerizations Rohm and Haas has been awarded a $2 M grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop new catalysts for polymerizing acrylic acid. The aim is to develop new acrylic polymers and copolymers for automobile and construction paints. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 14 Jun 2004, (259), 11 (in French)
Süd-Chemie’s jv in Qatar Süd-Chemie is to establish a jv, SüdChemie Qatar, in Qatar with two local partners to make catalysts for gas-toliquid (GTL) projects. Süd-Chemie will have a majority share in the company. The company will invest $10 M in the first phase of the project, for which government approvals are expected in 2004. European Chemical News, 7 Jun 2004, 80 (2103), 28 & Press release from: Süd-Chemie AG, Munich, Germany. Website: http://www.sud-chemie.com (1 Jun 2004)
Syntroleum announces 1Q 2004 results Syntroleum Corp announced unaudited financial results for 1Q ended Mar 2004. Revenue for 1Q 2004 increased to $5.9 M including the sale of catalyst materials in the amount of $5.6 M and joint development revenues of $300,000 ($800,000 in 1Q 2003). The company
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Degussa to work with BRAIN Degussa is to work with the German biotechnology company BRAIN to develop enzymes for making speciality chemicals. BRAIN already has an archive of 140 million genes obtained from microorganisms. Chemical and Engineering News, 28 Jun 2004, 82 (26), 15 & European Chemical News, 28 Jun 2004, 80 (2106), 25 & Chemical Market Reporter, 28 Jun 2004 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com)
O N
C ATA LY S T S
Group Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Headwaters Inc, and Rentech have formed a 50:50 jv between the two companies to combine their respective iron-based FischerTropsch gas-to-liquids (GTL) technologies. The companies believe they can take full advantage of both parties’ GTL experience and proprietary intellectual properties as well as the clean coal technologies developed by Headwaters. Press release from: Rentech Inc, 1331, 17th Street, Suite 720, Denver, CO 80202, USA. Tel: +1 303 298 8008. Fax: +1 303 298 8010. Website: http://www.rentechinc.com (16 Jun 2004)
Ilika: new combinatorial chemistry startup
tax income by 37% to €158 M although sales decreased by 4% to €2.69 bn. European Chemical News, 7 Jun 2004, 80 (2103), 9
Rentech studies GTL plant in Wyoming The feasibility of a gas-to-liquids plant in Wyoming is to be studied by Rentech. The economic viability of a 10,000 tonne/y unit using coal-based Fischer-Tropsch technology for the production of ultra-low sulfur diesel will be considered. Coal feedstock requirements for a 10,000 tonne/y unit are estimated by Rentech at 3 M tonne/y. A state grant of $500,000 has been awarded to the project. European Chemical News, 14 Jun 2004, 80 (2104), 31
Great Lakes & Phoenix explore new catalyst applications for ruthenium BINAP Great Lakes Fine Chemicals (GLFC) has leased its patented ruthenium BINAP catalysts to Phoenix Chemicals to assist in developing of cost-effective processes for making pharmaceutical intermediates. Potential for producing chiral versions of derivatives through reduction of beta keto esters and olefinic esters will be explored. Website: http://www.glcc.com. Chimica Oggi, May 2004, 22 (5), 41
Another loss for Haldor Topsoe in 2003 In 2003 the Danish catalysts company Haldor Topsoe reported an operating loss of DKR 29 M, compared with a loss of DKR 138 M in 2002. Turnover was up 11% to DKR 2.3 bn. Whereas in the previous 4 years there had been a negative free cash flow, in 2003 there was a positive free cash flow of DKR 120 M as a result of reduced investments. 2003 was a difficult year for the company but positive signs in the market could form the basis for improvements in operating structure from 2004 onwards. Dagbladet Borsen, 1 Jun 2004, 109 (102), 6 (in Danish)
Headwaters and Rentech finalize GTL joint venture Rentech Inc announced that Headwaters Technology Innovation
AUGUST 2004
Ilika is a new combinatorial materials discovery firm created by the University of Southampton, UK, with finance from Sulis, a UK university seed fund, and the venture capital company, IP2IPO. The new company will be based on high-throughput techniques developed in the University’s chemistry department and will target applications in fuel cells, catalysts, piezoelectric materials, therapeutic materials, and pharmaceuticals. Chemical Week, 16 Jun 2004, 166 (20) (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)
NE Chemcat enters VOC waste gas catalyst market Japanese company NE Chemcat plans to launch catalysts to treat VOC waste gases. There is a detailed discussion of the products and their applications. Japan Chemical Week, 17 Jun 2004, 45 (2274), 2
RAG acquires major shareholding in Degussa RAG, Essen, Germany, has increased its share in Degussa to 50.1% by buying shares from E.On for €3.9 bn. To finance the deal, RAG used €1.9 bn from the Ruhrgas sale and a €2 bn loan. The loan is to be repaid by the end of 2004 by divesting foreign coal mining and the plastics processing activities of its subsidiary Rütgers. In view of stock market conditions, E.On has decided not to float part of its 43% share in Degussa until 2005. Degussa increased its 1Q 2004 pre-
Rohm and Haas to develop new catalysts for acrylic acid polymerizations Rohm and Haas has been awarded a $2 M grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop new catalysts for polymerizing acrylic acid. The aim is to develop new acrylic polymers and copolymers for automobile and construction paints. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 14 Jun 2004, (259), 11 (in French)
Süd-Chemie’s jv in Qatar Süd-Chemie is to establish a jv, SüdChemie Qatar, in Qatar with two local partners to make catalysts for gas-toliquid (GTL) projects. Süd-Chemie will have a majority share in the company. The company will invest $10 M in the first phase of the project, for which government approvals are expected in 2004. European Chemical News, 7 Jun 2004, 80 (2103), 28 & Press release from: Süd-Chemie AG, Munich, Germany. Website: http://www.sud-chemie.com (1 Jun 2004)
Syntroleum announces 1Q 2004 results Syntroleum Corp announced unaudited financial results for 1Q ended Mar 2004. Revenue for 1Q 2004 increased to $5.9 M including the sale of catalyst materials in the amount of $5.6 M and joint development revenues of $300,000 ($800,000 in 1Q 2003). The company
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