- Email: [email protected]
BASF full year and 4Q 2009: care chemicals
F O C US businesses continued to be difficult while Clariant Oil Services improved over 2Q and 3Q 2009. Detergents & Intermediates saw a continuation of the stable business conditions that have prevailed since 2Q 2008. On a regional level, demand rebounded substantially in Asia while Europe experienced moderate growth. In Latin America a slowdown in business activity was observed while trading conditions in North America remained challenging. Clariant Results 2009, 16 Feb 2010, 10-11 (Clariant International Ltd, Rothaustrasse 61, CH-4132 Muttenz 1, Switzerland, website: http://www.clariant.com)
BASF full year and 4Q 2009: care chemicals In 4Q 2009 BASF’s care chemicals division’s sales were slightly higher than in 4Q 2008. The sales from the acquired Ciba businesses and considerably higher volumes more than offset negative price and currency effects. The group increased EBIT before special items significantly, in particular in the nutrition ingredients business unit as well as with products for detergents and formulators. For the year as a whole the care chemicals division posted sales of €3.405 bn, a decrease of €188 M compared with 2008 (volumes 9%, prices 3%, portfolio 5%, currencies 2%). The division’s business performance proved cyclically resilient in a difficult market environment. Income from operations was negatively impacted by costs resulting from the integration of the Ciba businesses; however, the group was already able to take advantage of synergies from the combined portfolio for market development purposes in 2009. Press release from: BASF SE, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany, tel: +49 621 600, website: http://www.basf.com (25 Feb 2010)
COMPANY NEWS Green Bridge acquires Organic Product Solutions, pens licensing agreement with wowgreen Green Bridge Industries Inc has acquired Organic Product Solutions APRIL 2010
O N
S U R FAC TA N T S
Inc (OPS) for $100,000 in cash or stock. OPS is a provider of clean technology solutions for the industrial/commercial, household and wastewater segments. As part of the agreement, David Gubb will be appointed as CEO of Green Bridge, while Bill White will remain on the board of directors of the company, as well as president of ZAP and the Green Bridge Institute. The market size combined of the industrial/commercial and household segments is about $20 bn. OPS has developed a product line of industrial and household cleaning products under the name Natures Solution. This product line is marketed by industrial supply company MSC Industrial Direct (MSC) and is their exclusive brand of green-cleaning solutions. Recently granted certification from NSF International, the Natures Solution line includes all purpose cleaner, carpet cleaner and deodorizer, glass cleaner, degreaser and hard surface cleaner, amongst others. OPS is currently manufacturing products for wowgreen International LLC with whom Green Bridge has recently signed an exclusive 3-year manufacturing and licence agreement. Through this agreement Green Bridge plans to produce and market wowgreen’s nonenzyme-based family of 12 safe, effective, all-natural, cleaning products, which include laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent and hand dish soap, amongst others. It will become the exclusive manufacturer of select wowgreen products on the Consumer side and for the Commercial Division. Green Bridge will pay wowgreen $250,000 for the rights to manufacture and source these as well as other new products. The letter of intent for wowgreen International to acquire majority ownership of Green Bridge [Focus on Surfactants, Feb 2010] has expired. Green Bridge’s focus for the next 10 months is to strengthen its market share in the household and industrial cleaning products industry. It is implementing several strategies to accomplish this goal. Press releases from: Green Bridge Industries, 70 Bridge Street Saranac, MI 48881, USA, tel: +1 616 560 3805, fax: +1 866 908 7087, e-mail: [email protected], website: http://www.greenbridgeindustries.com (19 Jan; 3, 11, 23 & 26 Feb 2010)
Huntsman in India Global chemical company Huntsman Corp has established itself in India and has a presence in all areas of business in which it is involved globally. While in 2000 Huntsman did not have a single employee in India, in 2009 nearly 12% of the company’s workforce is employed there. Huntsman recently inked a commercial agreement with Laffans [Focus on Surfactants, Sep 2009], also an Indian-based manufacturer of surfactants. This and other developments are part of Huntsman’s broader plans to establish aggressive growth in India. Most of Huntsman’s businesses in India are represented through sales. Its present priorities are on expanding its research and technical services in the country. Huntsman is eyeing the surfactants business in India, which holds sufficient promise in future, and plans to expand in this area; it will, however, continue to be a joint venture partner with Laffans in this business. The company plans to expand its local employee base further from the present strength of 1000 to about 2500 to 3000 in future, including scientists, chemists, R&D, financial and production personnel, thus changing its role from being merely an importer to being a manufacturer in India. Chemical Weekly, 1 Dec 2009, 55 (16), 192
Unilever drops second major palm oil producer Unilever has distanced itself from another major palm oil producer after a BBC documentary filmed its staff clearing protected rainforest to make way for plantations producing the widely used ingredient. In its second such blacklisting in three months [Focus on Surfactants, Feb 2010), Unilever said it would avoid buying supplies originating from the Indonesian company Duta Palma. The disclosures pose fresh questions about the effectiveness of Indonesian laws protecting wildlife-rich jungles and the industry’s attempt to clean up its image. The Independent, 20 Feb 2010, (Website: http://www.independent.co.uk)
7
BASF full year and 4Q 2009: care chemicals In 4Q 2009 BASF’s care chemicals division’s sales were slightly higher than in 4Q 2008. The sales from the acquired Ciba businesses and considerably higher volumes more than offset negative price and currency effects. The group increased EBIT before special items significantly, in particular in the nutrition ingredients business unit as well as with products for detergents and formulators. For the year as a whole the care chemicals division posted sales of €3.405 bn, a decrease of €188 M compared with 2008 (volumes 9%, prices 3%, portfolio 5%, currencies 2%). The division’s business performance proved cyclically resilient in a difficult market environment. Income from operations was negatively impacted by costs resulting from the integration of the Ciba businesses; however, the group was already able to take advantage of synergies from the combined portfolio for market development purposes in 2009. Press release from: BASF SE, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany, tel: +49 621 600, website: http://www.basf.com (25 Feb 2010)
COMPANY NEWS Green Bridge acquires Organic Product Solutions, pens licensing agreement with wowgreen Green Bridge Industries Inc has acquired Organic Product Solutions APRIL 2010
O N
S U R FAC TA N T S
Inc (OPS) for $100,000 in cash or stock. OPS is a provider of clean technology solutions for the industrial/commercial, household and wastewater segments. As part of the agreement, David Gubb will be appointed as CEO of Green Bridge, while Bill White will remain on the board of directors of the company, as well as president of ZAP and the Green Bridge Institute. The market size combined of the industrial/commercial and household segments is about $20 bn. OPS has developed a product line of industrial and household cleaning products under the name Natures Solution. This product line is marketed by industrial supply company MSC Industrial Direct (MSC) and is their exclusive brand of green-cleaning solutions. Recently granted certification from NSF International, the Natures Solution line includes all purpose cleaner, carpet cleaner and deodorizer, glass cleaner, degreaser and hard surface cleaner, amongst others. OPS is currently manufacturing products for wowgreen International LLC with whom Green Bridge has recently signed an exclusive 3-year manufacturing and licence agreement. Through this agreement Green Bridge plans to produce and market wowgreen’s nonenzyme-based family of 12 safe, effective, all-natural, cleaning products, which include laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent and hand dish soap, amongst others. It will become the exclusive manufacturer of select wowgreen products on the Consumer side and for the Commercial Division. Green Bridge will pay wowgreen $250,000 for the rights to manufacture and source these as well as other new products. The letter of intent for wowgreen International to acquire majority ownership of Green Bridge [Focus on Surfactants, Feb 2010] has expired. Green Bridge’s focus for the next 10 months is to strengthen its market share in the household and industrial cleaning products industry. It is implementing several strategies to accomplish this goal. Press releases from: Green Bridge Industries, 70 Bridge Street Saranac, MI 48881, USA, tel: +1 616 560 3805, fax: +1 866 908 7087, e-mail: [email protected], website: http://www.greenbridgeindustries.com (19 Jan; 3, 11, 23 & 26 Feb 2010)
Huntsman in India Global chemical company Huntsman Corp has established itself in India and has a presence in all areas of business in which it is involved globally. While in 2000 Huntsman did not have a single employee in India, in 2009 nearly 12% of the company’s workforce is employed there. Huntsman recently inked a commercial agreement with Laffans [Focus on Surfactants, Sep 2009], also an Indian-based manufacturer of surfactants. This and other developments are part of Huntsman’s broader plans to establish aggressive growth in India. Most of Huntsman’s businesses in India are represented through sales. Its present priorities are on expanding its research and technical services in the country. Huntsman is eyeing the surfactants business in India, which holds sufficient promise in future, and plans to expand in this area; it will, however, continue to be a joint venture partner with Laffans in this business. The company plans to expand its local employee base further from the present strength of 1000 to about 2500 to 3000 in future, including scientists, chemists, R&D, financial and production personnel, thus changing its role from being merely an importer to being a manufacturer in India. Chemical Weekly, 1 Dec 2009, 55 (16), 192
Unilever drops second major palm oil producer Unilever has distanced itself from another major palm oil producer after a BBC documentary filmed its staff clearing protected rainforest to make way for plantations producing the widely used ingredient. In its second such blacklisting in three months [Focus on Surfactants, Feb 2010), Unilever said it would avoid buying supplies originating from the Indonesian company Duta Palma. The disclosures pose fresh questions about the effectiveness of Indonesian laws protecting wildlife-rich jungles and the industry’s attempt to clean up its image. The Independent, 20 Feb 2010, (Website: http://www.independent.co.uk)
7