- Email: [email protected]
Major restructuring by Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry
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Pioneer announces 1Q 2003 results Pioneer Companies Inc reported that net income was $16.4 M on revenues of $89 M for 1Q ended Mar 2003 (net income was $9.9 M on revenues of $71.8 M in 1Q ended Mar 2002). Pioneer Companies Inc, based in Houston, manufactures chlorine, caustic soda, bleach, hydrochloric acid and related products used in a variety of applications, including water treatment, detergents, plastics, pulp and paper, agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals and medical disinfectants. Pioneer 1Q 2003 financial highlights, 15 May 2003 (Pioneer Companies Inc, 700, Louisiana Street, Suite 4300, Houston, TX 77002 USA. Tel: +1 713 570 3200. Fax: +1 713 225 6475. Website: http://www.piona.com)
Discovery Laboratories reports 1Q 2003 financials Discovery Laboratories Inc reported a net loss of $4.5 M for 1Q ended Mar 2003 (net loss of $3.37 M in 1Q 2002). The increase in the net loss primarily reflects clinical trial costs incurred for the company’s lead product, Surfaxin (which is currently in three Phase III trials and two Phase II trials for critical care patients with life threatening respiratory disorders), as well as activities related to the development of the company’s inhalable aerosol surfactant programmes to potentially treat a variety of respiratory conditions. Revenues from collaborative agreements for 1Q 2003 were $393,000 ($237,000 in 1Q 2002). R&D expenses were $3.844 M for 1Q 2003 ($2.605 M in 1Q 2002). Discovery Laboratories 1Q 2003 results, 14 May 2003 (Discovery Laboratories Inc, 350, South Main Street, Suite 307, Doylestown, PA 18901, USA. Tel: +1 215 340 4699. Fax: +1 215 340 3940. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://www.discoverylabs.com)
Bombril moves to red with 1Q 2003 losses of R$ 59.57 M Bombril, Brazil’s leading manufacturer of cleaning products, reported 1Q 2003 net losses of R$ 59.57 M (net profits of R$ 15.9 M in 1Q 2002). Bombril’s net revenue fell 17% to R$ 84.18 M for 1Q 2003. Bombril 1Q 2003 results, 21 May 2003
JULY 2003
COMPANY NEWS Major restructuring by Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry, which has its headquarters at Stenungsund, Sweden, is to carry out a major restructuring and efficiency enhancement programme, principally in its European and North American surfactant businesses. Around 200 jobs will go, approximately 120 in North America and 80 in Europe. Changes in European operations will mainly be in the area of administration, research and development, sales and marketing. 60 of the job cuts will be made in Sweden, mainly at Stenungsund, with the rest coming mainly within research and development and sales amongst the other European activities. In North America the personnel reductions will primarily be in production, with some also occurring in administration, research and development, and sales. Dagens Industri, 3 Jun 2003 (Website: http://di.se/NoFlash.asp) (in Swedish)
Asahi Kasei splits core businesses into seven companies In Oct 2003, a holding company will become responsible for the independent group companies to be established by Asahi Kasei. The companies will cover fibres, chemicals, homecare products, construction materials, housing, electronics and pharmaceuticals and healthcare. A three-year business plan, starting in the current fiscal year, aims to make the company a highly profitable operation. A formal decision on the restructuring will be made by shareholders on 17 Jun. The level of investment managed by each company will be increased from Yen 3 bn to Yen 5 bn. Japan Chemical Week, 29 May 2003, 44 (2222), 1
Unilever invests €75 M in advertising campaign for washing products Anglo-Dutch chemical and food products manufacturer Unilever
intends to continue its battle in the US with Procter and Gamble in the washing products market. It is therefore launching a global advertising campaign which will cost €75 M. Unilever hopes the campaign will reinforce the position of its bestknown washing powder on the world markets. The washing powder bears different names, Wisk in the USA and Skip and Omo in different parts of Europe and other markets. The campaign, called ‘Dirt is good’, should put pressure on Procter and Gamble’s sales of Ariel and Tide. Its broadcasting in European media started on 2 Jun 2003. In the USA it will probably begin at end 2003. According to J P Morgan Chase, Unilever has 2003 market shares of 19% in Europe and 17% in the USA, while Procter and Gamble has shares of 35% and 60%, respectively. However, Unilever is dominant in other markets like Brazil, India, Indonesia and South Africa. Het Financieele Dagblad, 3 Jun 2003, (129), 13 (in Dutch) & Hospodarske Noviny, 5 Jun 2003, 47 (108), 17 (in Czech)
Henkel to become Russian exporter In Apr 2003 Era-Henkel (Henkel’s subsidiary in Russia) put into operation a €2.8 M production line for liquid detergents. The production line capacity is 12,000 tonnes/y and could be increased to 25,000 tonnes/y. Henkel is stopping imports to Russia of its detergent and intends to export Era-Henkel’s products to Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Khimiya i Biznes, Apr 2003, 53-54 (2003) (1-2), 35 (in Russian)
Jilin Tuopu Chemical Co Ltd established Jilin Tuopu Chemical Co Ltd was established earlier this year in China to produce 8000 tonnes/y non-ionic synthetic surfactants and 2000 tonnes/y multi-functional chemicals. The two production units together with a scientific research unit cost RMB Yuan 15 M. The company employs more than 50 people. China Chemical Reporter, 6 May 2003, 14 (13), 5
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Pioneer announces 1Q 2003 results Pioneer Companies Inc reported that net income was $16.4 M on revenues of $89 M for 1Q ended Mar 2003 (net income was $9.9 M on revenues of $71.8 M in 1Q ended Mar 2002). Pioneer Companies Inc, based in Houston, manufactures chlorine, caustic soda, bleach, hydrochloric acid and related products used in a variety of applications, including water treatment, detergents, plastics, pulp and paper, agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals and medical disinfectants. Pioneer 1Q 2003 financial highlights, 15 May 2003 (Pioneer Companies Inc, 700, Louisiana Street, Suite 4300, Houston, TX 77002 USA. Tel: +1 713 570 3200. Fax: +1 713 225 6475. Website: http://www.piona.com)
Discovery Laboratories reports 1Q 2003 financials Discovery Laboratories Inc reported a net loss of $4.5 M for 1Q ended Mar 2003 (net loss of $3.37 M in 1Q 2002). The increase in the net loss primarily reflects clinical trial costs incurred for the company’s lead product, Surfaxin (which is currently in three Phase III trials and two Phase II trials for critical care patients with life threatening respiratory disorders), as well as activities related to the development of the company’s inhalable aerosol surfactant programmes to potentially treat a variety of respiratory conditions. Revenues from collaborative agreements for 1Q 2003 were $393,000 ($237,000 in 1Q 2002). R&D expenses were $3.844 M for 1Q 2003 ($2.605 M in 1Q 2002). Discovery Laboratories 1Q 2003 results, 14 May 2003 (Discovery Laboratories Inc, 350, South Main Street, Suite 307, Doylestown, PA 18901, USA. Tel: +1 215 340 4699. Fax: +1 215 340 3940. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://www.discoverylabs.com)
Bombril moves to red with 1Q 2003 losses of R$ 59.57 M Bombril, Brazil’s leading manufacturer of cleaning products, reported 1Q 2003 net losses of R$ 59.57 M (net profits of R$ 15.9 M in 1Q 2002). Bombril’s net revenue fell 17% to R$ 84.18 M for 1Q 2003. Bombril 1Q 2003 results, 21 May 2003
JULY 2003
COMPANY NEWS Major restructuring by Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry Akzo Nobel Surface Chemistry, which has its headquarters at Stenungsund, Sweden, is to carry out a major restructuring and efficiency enhancement programme, principally in its European and North American surfactant businesses. Around 200 jobs will go, approximately 120 in North America and 80 in Europe. Changes in European operations will mainly be in the area of administration, research and development, sales and marketing. 60 of the job cuts will be made in Sweden, mainly at Stenungsund, with the rest coming mainly within research and development and sales amongst the other European activities. In North America the personnel reductions will primarily be in production, with some also occurring in administration, research and development, and sales. Dagens Industri, 3 Jun 2003 (Website: http://di.se/NoFlash.asp) (in Swedish)
Asahi Kasei splits core businesses into seven companies In Oct 2003, a holding company will become responsible for the independent group companies to be established by Asahi Kasei. The companies will cover fibres, chemicals, homecare products, construction materials, housing, electronics and pharmaceuticals and healthcare. A three-year business plan, starting in the current fiscal year, aims to make the company a highly profitable operation. A formal decision on the restructuring will be made by shareholders on 17 Jun. The level of investment managed by each company will be increased from Yen 3 bn to Yen 5 bn. Japan Chemical Week, 29 May 2003, 44 (2222), 1
Unilever invests €75 M in advertising campaign for washing products Anglo-Dutch chemical and food products manufacturer Unilever
intends to continue its battle in the US with Procter and Gamble in the washing products market. It is therefore launching a global advertising campaign which will cost €75 M. Unilever hopes the campaign will reinforce the position of its bestknown washing powder on the world markets. The washing powder bears different names, Wisk in the USA and Skip and Omo in different parts of Europe and other markets. The campaign, called ‘Dirt is good’, should put pressure on Procter and Gamble’s sales of Ariel and Tide. Its broadcasting in European media started on 2 Jun 2003. In the USA it will probably begin at end 2003. According to J P Morgan Chase, Unilever has 2003 market shares of 19% in Europe and 17% in the USA, while Procter and Gamble has shares of 35% and 60%, respectively. However, Unilever is dominant in other markets like Brazil, India, Indonesia and South Africa. Het Financieele Dagblad, 3 Jun 2003, (129), 13 (in Dutch) & Hospodarske Noviny, 5 Jun 2003, 47 (108), 17 (in Czech)
Henkel to become Russian exporter In Apr 2003 Era-Henkel (Henkel’s subsidiary in Russia) put into operation a €2.8 M production line for liquid detergents. The production line capacity is 12,000 tonnes/y and could be increased to 25,000 tonnes/y. Henkel is stopping imports to Russia of its detergent and intends to export Era-Henkel’s products to Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Khimiya i Biznes, Apr 2003, 53-54 (2003) (1-2), 35 (in Russian)
Jilin Tuopu Chemical Co Ltd established Jilin Tuopu Chemical Co Ltd was established earlier this year in China to produce 8000 tonnes/y non-ionic synthetic surfactants and 2000 tonnes/y multi-functional chemicals. The two production units together with a scientific research unit cost RMB Yuan 15 M. The company employs more than 50 people. China Chemical Reporter, 6 May 2003, 14 (13), 5
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