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Catalytica Energy Systems 3Q 2006
FOCUS BASF integrates Engelhard and reduces staff The consolidation of BASF’s global operations into Engelhard Corp, which the company acquired on 6 Jun 2006, will result in the elimination of roughly 800 jobs. Most of the affected jobs will be in the USA. BASF will incur a onetime charge of about €100 M ($120 M) related to the integration, and achieve synergies of €160 M/y ($200 M) by 2010. The Catalyst Division and major related research functions will be based in Iselin, NJ. BASF will continue to have its North American headquarters in Florham Park, NJ. Ink Maker, Nov 2006, 84 (9), 8 & Chimica Oggi, Nov/Dec 2006, 24 (6), 47
BP chooses academic partners for its Energy Biosciences Institute BP has selected the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as its partners in the new Energy Biosciences Institute. BP will provide $500 M over the next 10 years to establish the Institute. Targets will be renewable biofuels for road transportation, conversion of hydrocarbons into clean fuels, improved recovery from existing oil and gas reservoirs, and carbon sequestration. Chemical Week, 7 Feb 2007, 169 (5), 6
Catalytica Energy Systems 3Q 2006 Catalytica Energy Systems Inc has reported on its business highlights for its 3Q 2006 (period ends 30 Sep 2006). Catalytica Energy Systems’ SCR-Tech business continues to make progress in expanding its customer base and broadening its reach in the emerging market for SCR catalyst services. As previously announced, SCR-Tech secured in Jul 2006 its largest catalyst regeneration contract to date totalling $1.9 M from a large regional utility company, and continues to pursue a growing number of new order prospects. In Sep 2006, the Company completed the sale of its Xonon Cool Combustion catalytic combustion technology and associated gas turbine assets to Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd for $2.1 M. After payment of sales
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commissions and related closing costs, Catalytica Energy Systems recognized approximately $1.9 M in net cash proceeds from the sale. Catalytica Energy Systems Reports, 3Q 2006, 14 Nov 2006, 2 (Catalytica Energy Systems Inc, 430 Ferguson Drive, Bldg 3, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Tel: +1 650 960 3000. Website: http://www.catalyticaenergy.com)
Diversa and Syngenta pursue cellulosic biofuels The R&D collaboration between Diversa and Syngenta is being revised to focus on the development of enzymes used in biofuels production. Terms of the restructured agreement, covering a 10-year period, include Syngenta’s commitment for $16 M in R&D funding through 2009. The two companies seek to invent enzymes for converting cellulosic biomass into sugars for fermentation into ethanol or other fuels. Syngenta plans to grow the enzymes in transgenic plants, while Diversa will pursue production of the enzymes through fermentation. The original agreement, signed in 2003, called for $118 M worth of research at Diversa within a period of seven years. Diversa noted that $35 M of the original funding remains. Chemical and Engineering News, 15 Jan 2007, 85 (3), 33 & Chemical Week, 17 Jan 2007 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & ICIS Chemical Business, 15 Jan 2007 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) & Chemistry and Industry (London), 15 Jan 2007, (1), 7 & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 22 Jan 2007, (368), 10
Diversa Corp joins forces with New Zealand Crown Research Institutes to develop biofuels industry Diversa Corp has announced that it has formed a research programme with New Zealand Crown Research Institutes Scion and AgResearch which could ultimately see New Zealand’s entire vehicle fleet running on New Zealand-grown and manufactured biofuels. The partners have agreed to coordinate their technology development initiatives to target the feasibility of a transportation biofuel industry in New Zealand that uses bio-based feedstocks such as trees and grasses. Press release from: Diversa Corp, 4955 Directors Place, San Diego, CA 92121, USA (22 Jan 2007)
Grace reports 4Q and 2006 financial results WR Grace & Co announced its financial results for 4Q and year ended Dec 2006. Sales for 4Q 2006 were $697.4 M (+9.6% over $636.4 M in 4Q 2005). The increase was attributable primarily to added sales volume in most geographic regions and higher selling prices in response to cost inflation. Sales for the Grace Davison operating segment, which includes silica and alumina-based catalysts and materials used in a wide range of industrial applications, were $367.4 M for 4Q 2006. Pre-tax operating income of the Grace Davison operating segment for 4Q 2006 was $44 M (pre-tax operating income of $39.5 M in 4Q 2005), an 11.4% increase. Sales of the Grace Davison operating segment for 2006 were $1500.6 M, up 9.5% from 2005. WR Grace 4Q and 2006 results, 24 Jan 2007 (WR Grace & Co, 7500 Grace Drive, Columbia, MD 21044, USA. Tel: +1 410 531 4514. Website: http://www.grace.com)
Second European refinery to run Headwaters’ heavy oil catalyst technology Headwaters Inc has scheduled the fourth commercial run of its HCAT catalyst technology designed to improve the upgrading of heavy oil to lighter transportation fuels such as diesel and gasoline. Headwaters Heavy Oil has signed an agreement with a major European refinery to demonstrate the HCAT catalyst under commercial operating conditions. The heavy oil upgrading catalyst technology is used by Headwaters Heavy Oil under an exclusive licence from the Alberta Science and Research Authority and the Alberta Research Council Inc. Press release from: Headwaters Inc, 11778 S Election Road, Suite 210, Draper, UT 84020, USA. Tel: +1 801 984 9400. Fax: +1 801 984 9410. Website: http://www.hdwtrs.com (18 Jan 2007)
JM’s prospects Johnson Matthey has attracted investor interest after the divestment of its ceramics business in Dec 2006. The sale of its ceramics operations, with sales of £182 M and operating profit of £21 M, to Capital Partners for £153 M ($302 M) had provided
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BP chooses academic partners for its Energy Biosciences Institute BP has selected the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as its partners in the new Energy Biosciences Institute. BP will provide $500 M over the next 10 years to establish the Institute. Targets will be renewable biofuels for road transportation, conversion of hydrocarbons into clean fuels, improved recovery from existing oil and gas reservoirs, and carbon sequestration. Chemical Week, 7 Feb 2007, 169 (5), 6
Catalytica Energy Systems 3Q 2006 Catalytica Energy Systems Inc has reported on its business highlights for its 3Q 2006 (period ends 30 Sep 2006). Catalytica Energy Systems’ SCR-Tech business continues to make progress in expanding its customer base and broadening its reach in the emerging market for SCR catalyst services. As previously announced, SCR-Tech secured in Jul 2006 its largest catalyst regeneration contract to date totalling $1.9 M from a large regional utility company, and continues to pursue a growing number of new order prospects. In Sep 2006, the Company completed the sale of its Xonon Cool Combustion catalytic combustion technology and associated gas turbine assets to Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd for $2.1 M. After payment of sales
MARCH 2007
ON
C ATA LY S T S
commissions and related closing costs, Catalytica Energy Systems recognized approximately $1.9 M in net cash proceeds from the sale. Catalytica Energy Systems Reports, 3Q 2006, 14 Nov 2006, 2 (Catalytica Energy Systems Inc, 430 Ferguson Drive, Bldg 3, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Tel: +1 650 960 3000. Website: http://www.catalyticaenergy.com)
Diversa and Syngenta pursue cellulosic biofuels The R&D collaboration between Diversa and Syngenta is being revised to focus on the development of enzymes used in biofuels production. Terms of the restructured agreement, covering a 10-year period, include Syngenta’s commitment for $16 M in R&D funding through 2009. The two companies seek to invent enzymes for converting cellulosic biomass into sugars for fermentation into ethanol or other fuels. Syngenta plans to grow the enzymes in transgenic plants, while Diversa will pursue production of the enzymes through fermentation. The original agreement, signed in 2003, called for $118 M worth of research at Diversa within a period of seven years. Diversa noted that $35 M of the original funding remains. Chemical and Engineering News, 15 Jan 2007, 85 (3), 33 & Chemical Week, 17 Jan 2007 (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & ICIS Chemical Business, 15 Jan 2007 (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com) & Chemistry and Industry (London), 15 Jan 2007, (1), 7 & Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 22 Jan 2007, (368), 10
Diversa Corp joins forces with New Zealand Crown Research Institutes to develop biofuels industry Diversa Corp has announced that it has formed a research programme with New Zealand Crown Research Institutes Scion and AgResearch which could ultimately see New Zealand’s entire vehicle fleet running on New Zealand-grown and manufactured biofuels. The partners have agreed to coordinate their technology development initiatives to target the feasibility of a transportation biofuel industry in New Zealand that uses bio-based feedstocks such as trees and grasses. Press release from: Diversa Corp, 4955 Directors Place, San Diego, CA 92121, USA (22 Jan 2007)
Grace reports 4Q and 2006 financial results WR Grace & Co announced its financial results for 4Q and year ended Dec 2006. Sales for 4Q 2006 were $697.4 M (+9.6% over $636.4 M in 4Q 2005). The increase was attributable primarily to added sales volume in most geographic regions and higher selling prices in response to cost inflation. Sales for the Grace Davison operating segment, which includes silica and alumina-based catalysts and materials used in a wide range of industrial applications, were $367.4 M for 4Q 2006. Pre-tax operating income of the Grace Davison operating segment for 4Q 2006 was $44 M (pre-tax operating income of $39.5 M in 4Q 2005), an 11.4% increase. Sales of the Grace Davison operating segment for 2006 were $1500.6 M, up 9.5% from 2005. WR Grace 4Q and 2006 results, 24 Jan 2007 (WR Grace & Co, 7500 Grace Drive, Columbia, MD 21044, USA. Tel: +1 410 531 4514. Website: http://www.grace.com)
Second European refinery to run Headwaters’ heavy oil catalyst technology Headwaters Inc has scheduled the fourth commercial run of its HCAT catalyst technology designed to improve the upgrading of heavy oil to lighter transportation fuels such as diesel and gasoline. Headwaters Heavy Oil has signed an agreement with a major European refinery to demonstrate the HCAT catalyst under commercial operating conditions. The heavy oil upgrading catalyst technology is used by Headwaters Heavy Oil under an exclusive licence from the Alberta Science and Research Authority and the Alberta Research Council Inc. Press release from: Headwaters Inc, 11778 S Election Road, Suite 210, Draper, UT 84020, USA. Tel: +1 801 984 9400. Fax: +1 801 984 9410. Website: http://www.hdwtrs.com (18 Jan 2007)
JM’s prospects Johnson Matthey has attracted investor interest after the divestment of its ceramics business in Dec 2006. The sale of its ceramics operations, with sales of £182 M and operating profit of £21 M, to Capital Partners for £153 M ($302 M) had provided
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