Engelhard 3Q 2005: Earnings – 3Q 2005

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Biorefineries a step closer for Cargill and Materia

ExxonMobil to grant PP technology licences

Cargill and Materia Inc are working together in the US on the creation of so-called biorefineries for the production of industrial chemicals, feedstocks, and consumer products from vegetable oils. The biorefinery concept is based on proprietary olefin metathesis technology from Materia in which catalyst performance has now been increased by a factor of fifteen. A commercial-scale production plant is now operational, producing a proprietary product for use by Cargill. The US Department of Energy has provided part of the funding for the jv.

Polypropylene technology is being made available under licence from ExxonMobil. It is expected that various companies will licence the technologies for polymer projects in the Middle East, Asia, China, and Africa. Companies acquiring a licence will be permitted their own choice of catalyst. The technology combines Mitsui’s Hypol technology and Basell’s Spheripol loop process.

Oils and Fats International, Nov 2005, 21 (6), 10

UK move on biofuels could benefit Danisco According to Handelsbanken Capital Markets, Danisco should benefit from the British government’s taking the initiative in complying with the EU’s demand with respect to alternative energy sources by, amongst other things, deciding to use biofuels. This will boost the 2.5 bn litre demand for biofuels which will create high growth in the European bioethanol industry in the coming years. Danisco is one of the biggest suppliers of enzymes for the production of bioethanol, the rise in demand for which was confirmed in Aug 2005 when the production of bioethanol on the US market grew by 16%. The British decision will not change Handelsbanken’s immediate forecast for Danisco. Net Posten, 15 Nov 2005 (Website: http://www.netposten.dk/) (in Danish)

Engelhard 3Q 2005: Earnings – 3Q 2005 For its 3Q 2005 (ends 30 Sep 2005), Engelhard Corp has reported sales of $1208 M ($995 M for its 3Q 2004), operating income of $58.5 M ($59.8 M), net income of $58.5 M ($59.0 M), and EPS of $0.49 ($0.49). Engelhard 3Q Results 2005, 24 Oct 2005, (Engelhard Corp, 101 Wood Avenue, Iselin, NJ 08830, USA. Tel: +1 732 205 5000. Website: http://www.engelhard.com)

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European Chemical News, 14 Nov 2005, 83 (2171), 26 & Chemical Week, 16 Nov 2005, 167 (38) (Website: http://www.chemweek.com)

Two companies win biodefence contracts Genencor International has won a $2 M contract from the Department of Defense to develop an enzyme-based decontamination product for chemical and biological warfare agents. The company will work with the US Army Edgewood Chemical & Biological Center to develop enzymes able to decontaminate agents such as mustard gas, anthrax, and botulism. Elsewhere, Lybradyn has won a Phase I SBIR grant from NIH to develop new organophosphorus hydrolases for the biocatalytic degradation of warfare agents and pesticides. Chemical and Engineering News, 7 Nov 2005, 83 (45), 12-13 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) & Press release from: Genencor International Inc, 200, Meridian Centre Boulevard, Rochester, NY 146183916, USA. Tel: +1 585 256 5200. Fax: +1 585 256 6952. Website: http://www.genencor.com (31 Oct 2005) & Dagbladet Borsen, 31 Oct 2005 (Website: http://www.borsen.dk) (in Danish)

Grace acquires Single-Site Catalysts Single-Site Catalysts LLC, which supplies organometallic catalysts, has been acquired by WR Grace Co. WR Grace will incorporate the business into Davison Chemicals. Financial details are undisclosed. Chemical Market Reporter, 14 Nov 2005 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chemical Week, 16 Nov 2005, 167 (38) (Website: http://www.chemweek.com) & Chemical and Engineering News, 14 Nov 2005, 83 (46), 39 & European Chemical News, 14 Nov 2005, 83 (2171), 10 & Press release from: WR Grace & Co, Columbia, MD, USA. Website: http://www.grace.com (8 Nov 2005)

Novozymes sales up 9% in 3Q 2005 In 3Q 2005 Novozymes recorded technical enzymes sales of DKR 442 M, around 9% up on 3Q 2004. Once again this was mainly driven by sales of enzymes for ethanol biofuel and the textile and starch industries. Sales of washing product enzymes fell by 1.7% to DKR 516 M, with rising raw material prices having a negative effect. It is thought there will need to be renewed growth in this sector if Novozymes is to achieve the long term growth target of 8-9% for its enzymes business. The company has reduced its sales growth forecast for 2005 from 6-7% to 5%. Net Posten, 2 Nov 2005 (Website: http://www.netposten.dk/) (in Danish)

Novozymes launches three new enzymes for bioethanol production Novozymes, Denmark, is launching three new enzymes which increase the efficiency of ethanol production from wheat, rye, and barley by up to 20%, thereby creating the possibility of boosting the production of bioethanol in Europe. The new enzyme solutions became available on 3 Nov 2005. Bioethanol for the replacement of petrol in cars is already big business in America, but the bioethanol production here is largely based on maize which is easier to use. The European biofuels market is not as large but this situation could be improved by the new enzyme preparations which are designed for use with major European cereals. These preparations, known as Viscozyme Wheat, Viscozyme Rye, and Viscozyme Barley produce more of the carbon dioxide-neutral bioethanol from these crops than previously. In addition the production process involves less water and energy consumption. Net Posten, 3 Nov 2005 (Website: http://www.netposten.dk/) (in Danish)

Pacific Fuel Cell announces agreement with Bourns for collaborative scale-up of nanoMEA process Pacific Fuel Cell Corp (PFCE) has entered into an agreement with Bourns Inc headquartered in Riverside, CA, to work together to

JANUARY 2006