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TOR Minerals appoints Lake to sell Hitox pigments in UK & Eire
FOCUS retains a warrant to purchase an additional 5 M shares of Lyondell common stock at $25 per share. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 25 Sep 2006, (353), 10-11, website: http://www.france-chimie.com (in French) & Press Release from: Lyondell Chemical Co, 1221 McKinney Street, Houston, TX 77010, USA. Tel: +1 713 652 7200. Website: http://www.lyondell.com (30 Oct 2006)
Sioen Industries buys Richard Colorants & Siegwerk’s decorative inks & varnishes Sioen Industries (of Ardooie, Belgium) has recently made two important acquisitions. This follows a strategic decision to expand its role in the fine chemicals used in colouring pastes, plastics and other materials. Sioen’s fine chemicals business is centred around European Master Batch (EMB), a wholly-owned subsidiary headed by Ms Pascale Sioen. The company’s portfolio includes pigment pastes for colouring polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coatings, epoxy and acrylic resins and silicones. Sioen Industries has production facilities in 14 different countries, sells its products in 80 different countris and employs 4600 people. For full-year 2006, its sales revenue will be of the order of €340 M. On 29 September, Sioen Industries acquired the decorative inks and varnishes business of Siegwerk Benelux. The customers for these products make vinyl and laminate floor- and wall-coverings, decorative papers and rigid and flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) panels. The acquired business will be integrated with that of EMB. Earlier this year, EMB inaugurated a new factory at Bornem (Belgium), with a floor area in excess of 6000 square metres, housing equipment for producing varnishes, inks, pigment granules and pigment pastes. The acquired business will absorb about 5000 tonnes/y of output from Bornem. On 27 October, EMB acquired the Richard Colorants group, including Copidis (at Lomme, near Lille, in northern France) and Astra (at Lyon, in southeastern France). Richard Colorants makes liquid coloured pigments for a wide variety of applications, including water-based paints, adhesives, textile coatings, wallpaper, laminate paper, floor
DECEMBER 2006
ON
PIGMENTS
coverings, shoe polishes, wax crayons and finger paints. Press Releases from: Sioen Industries, Fabriekstraat 23, B-8850 Ardooie, Belgium. Tel: +32 (0)51 740980 (29 Sep 2006 & 27 Oct 2006)
Texas Pacific buys Aleris The Texas Pacific group (a private investment firm) will acquire all of the outstanding stock of Aleris International for about $1.7 bn, plus the assumption of $1.6 bn of debt. The offices and manufacturing operations of Aleris will be retained by the new owners and the headquarters will remain in Beachwood. Aleris manufactures zinc oxide and zinc dust, as well as various other valueadded zinc products. Press Release from: Aleris International Inc, 25825 Science Park Drive, Suite 400, Beachwood, OH 441227392, USA. Tel: +1 216 910 3400. Fax: +1 216 910 3650. Website: http://www.aleris.com (8 Aug 2006)
TOR Minerals appoints Lake to sell Hitox pigments in UK & Eire TOR Minerals International (of Corpus Christi, Texas) has appointed Lake Chemicals & Minerals as its distributor for Hitox Standard and Hitox SF titanium pigments for the UK and Eire. ICIS Chemical Business, 18 Sep 2006, (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com)
Univar to sell 3M’s cosmetic microspheres The Univar group has been appointed by 3M Corp as the European distributor for its CM-111 cosmetic microspheres. These are white, semitransparent “ceramic particles” that are non-absorbent. They are intended for use as fillers and texture enhancers in lipsticks, pressed and loose cosmetic powders, mascara and other skincare products, with the main objective of preventing formulations from drying out. SPC, Soap Perfumery and Cosmetics, Sep 2006, 79 (9), 63
Yule Catto to part company with Holliday? The Yule Catto group has declared that it will try to sell its Performance Chemicals division over the next 12-
18 months. In future, the group will concentrate on its Polymer Chemicals business, which specialises in rubber and polymer emulsions (latices). Yule Catto has also launched a programme to consolidate its position in the synthesis of active ingredients for the generic drugs sector. At present, the company’s revenue from this sector is mainly derived from omeprazole. For 1H 2006, the Polymer Chemicals division reported operating profit at €20.3 M on turnover of €199.4 M. The Pharma & Fine Chemicals division reported operating profit at €4.9 M on turnover of €45.3 M. The Performance Chemicals division reported operating profit at €100,000 on turnover of €37.1 M. Holliday Pigments, the world’s leading supplier of ultramarine pigments, is a key subsidiary within the Performance Chemicals division. Commenting on its results for full-year 2005, Yule Catto stated: “The ultramarine business had a challenging year, with a downturn in sales as distributors reduced stocking levels. In France, the operations (based on the plant at Comines) delivered a good all round performance. On the other hand, the UK operation (based on a plant at Hull) was plagued by production issues that restricted output. Actions to alter this position are in hand, with good progress being achieved towards key performance targets. Our products are the standard by which the ultramarine market judges quality and there remain numerous applications to grow our sales volumes, particularly in the increasingly important Chinese market. The acceptance process for new products in the automotive, construction and ink industries continues, but customer testing regimes, by definition, remain a lengthy process.” Other businesses within Yule Catto’s Performance Chemicals division specialise in the supply of photographic chemicals. During 2005, Yule Catto closed down the James Robinson photochromic tints factory at Huddersfield (UK), disposed of the Rearbrook detergents business and withdrew from the liquid sulfur dioxide industry. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 18 Sep 2006, (352), 8 (Website: http://www.france-chimie.com) (in French)
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Sioen Industries buys Richard Colorants & Siegwerk’s decorative inks & varnishes Sioen Industries (of Ardooie, Belgium) has recently made two important acquisitions. This follows a strategic decision to expand its role in the fine chemicals used in colouring pastes, plastics and other materials. Sioen’s fine chemicals business is centred around European Master Batch (EMB), a wholly-owned subsidiary headed by Ms Pascale Sioen. The company’s portfolio includes pigment pastes for colouring polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coatings, epoxy and acrylic resins and silicones. Sioen Industries has production facilities in 14 different countries, sells its products in 80 different countris and employs 4600 people. For full-year 2006, its sales revenue will be of the order of €340 M. On 29 September, Sioen Industries acquired the decorative inks and varnishes business of Siegwerk Benelux. The customers for these products make vinyl and laminate floor- and wall-coverings, decorative papers and rigid and flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) panels. The acquired business will be integrated with that of EMB. Earlier this year, EMB inaugurated a new factory at Bornem (Belgium), with a floor area in excess of 6000 square metres, housing equipment for producing varnishes, inks, pigment granules and pigment pastes. The acquired business will absorb about 5000 tonnes/y of output from Bornem. On 27 October, EMB acquired the Richard Colorants group, including Copidis (at Lomme, near Lille, in northern France) and Astra (at Lyon, in southeastern France). Richard Colorants makes liquid coloured pigments for a wide variety of applications, including water-based paints, adhesives, textile coatings, wallpaper, laminate paper, floor
DECEMBER 2006
ON
PIGMENTS
coverings, shoe polishes, wax crayons and finger paints. Press Releases from: Sioen Industries, Fabriekstraat 23, B-8850 Ardooie, Belgium. Tel: +32 (0)51 740980 (29 Sep 2006 & 27 Oct 2006)
Texas Pacific buys Aleris The Texas Pacific group (a private investment firm) will acquire all of the outstanding stock of Aleris International for about $1.7 bn, plus the assumption of $1.6 bn of debt. The offices and manufacturing operations of Aleris will be retained by the new owners and the headquarters will remain in Beachwood. Aleris manufactures zinc oxide and zinc dust, as well as various other valueadded zinc products. Press Release from: Aleris International Inc, 25825 Science Park Drive, Suite 400, Beachwood, OH 441227392, USA. Tel: +1 216 910 3400. Fax: +1 216 910 3650. Website: http://www.aleris.com (8 Aug 2006)
TOR Minerals appoints Lake to sell Hitox pigments in UK & Eire TOR Minerals International (of Corpus Christi, Texas) has appointed Lake Chemicals & Minerals as its distributor for Hitox Standard and Hitox SF titanium pigments for the UK and Eire. ICIS Chemical Business, 18 Sep 2006, (Website: http://icischemicalbusiness.com)
Univar to sell 3M’s cosmetic microspheres The Univar group has been appointed by 3M Corp as the European distributor for its CM-111 cosmetic microspheres. These are white, semitransparent “ceramic particles” that are non-absorbent. They are intended for use as fillers and texture enhancers in lipsticks, pressed and loose cosmetic powders, mascara and other skincare products, with the main objective of preventing formulations from drying out. SPC, Soap Perfumery and Cosmetics, Sep 2006, 79 (9), 63
Yule Catto to part company with Holliday? The Yule Catto group has declared that it will try to sell its Performance Chemicals division over the next 12-
18 months. In future, the group will concentrate on its Polymer Chemicals business, which specialises in rubber and polymer emulsions (latices). Yule Catto has also launched a programme to consolidate its position in the synthesis of active ingredients for the generic drugs sector. At present, the company’s revenue from this sector is mainly derived from omeprazole. For 1H 2006, the Polymer Chemicals division reported operating profit at €20.3 M on turnover of €199.4 M. The Pharma & Fine Chemicals division reported operating profit at €4.9 M on turnover of €45.3 M. The Performance Chemicals division reported operating profit at €100,000 on turnover of €37.1 M. Holliday Pigments, the world’s leading supplier of ultramarine pigments, is a key subsidiary within the Performance Chemicals division. Commenting on its results for full-year 2005, Yule Catto stated: “The ultramarine business had a challenging year, with a downturn in sales as distributors reduced stocking levels. In France, the operations (based on the plant at Comines) delivered a good all round performance. On the other hand, the UK operation (based on a plant at Hull) was plagued by production issues that restricted output. Actions to alter this position are in hand, with good progress being achieved towards key performance targets. Our products are the standard by which the ultramarine market judges quality and there remain numerous applications to grow our sales volumes, particularly in the increasingly important Chinese market. The acceptance process for new products in the automotive, construction and ink industries continues, but customer testing regimes, by definition, remain a lengthy process.” Other businesses within Yule Catto’s Performance Chemicals division specialise in the supply of photographic chemicals. During 2005, Yule Catto closed down the James Robinson photochromic tints factory at Huddersfield (UK), disposed of the Rearbrook detergents business and withdrew from the liquid sulfur dioxide industry. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 18 Sep 2006, (352), 8 (Website: http://www.france-chimie.com) (in French)
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