DKSH to Acquire US Distributor Terra Firma
Swiss distributor DKSH is poised to acquire North American specialty chemicals distributor Terra Firma, expanding the platform of its Performance Materials business unit to the US and Canada.
News
CF Industries and ExxonMobil Collaborate on Carbon Capture
US ammonia manufacturer CF Industries and energy giant ExxonMobil are collaborating to capture and store up to 2 million t/y of CO2 emissions the CF complex at Donaldsonville, Louisiana. The project is scheduled to start up in early 2025.
Infineum Buys Entegris’ Pipeline and Industrial Materials Business
The Shell/ExxonMobil petroleum additives joint venture Infineum has agreed to acquire the Pipeline and Industrial Materials (PIM) business of US company Entegris. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter, subject to regulatory clearance and the usual conditions.
CDMO Adragos to Buy Sanofi Site in Japan
Munich-based German CDMO Adragos Pharma said it has signed a definitive agreement with Sanofi’s Japanese subsidiary to acquire a pharmaceutical manufacturing site in Kawagoe, near Tokyo.
PCG Completes Acquisition of Perstorp
Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG) has completed its acquisition of all shares of Swedish chemical producer Perstorp for $1.54 billion, based on an enterprise value of €2.3 billion.
Bachem Innovates its Manufacturing Capabilities
Interest in oligonucleotide therapeutics has grown, as has the market demand, since their emergence as a new drug modality two decades ago.
Solvay Collaborates with Australia’s Hastings on Rare Earths
Solvay has signed a non-binding offtake agreement with Australia’s Hastings Technology Metals for the supply of mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC). Under the deal, Hastings will initially supply 2,500 t/y of MREC from its Yangibana rare earth project in Western Australia to Solvay’s plant in La Rochelle, France.
BASF Plans European Austerity as Outlook Dims
Against the backdrop of weaker than expected third-quarter earnings – “significantly worse” in Europe and a negative result in Germany – as well as deteriorating framework conditions, BASF is launching a cost-saving program focused on those two strategic markets.
EU Clears Celanese’s Purchase of DuPont’s Mobility and Materials Business
The European Commission has cleared Celanese’s proposed purchase of DuPont’s Mobility and Materials (M&M) business after the former agreed to sell its global thermoplastic copolymer business to allay competition fears.
Bodo Möller Buys Spain’s General Adhesivos
German chemical distribution group Bodo Möller Chemie has expanded its business in the Iberian Peninsula with the acquisition of General Adhesivos, an adhesives specialist located not far from the industrial centers of Tarragona and Barcelona in Spain.
BASF and GS E&C Sign MOU for CCUS Solutions
BASF and South Korea’s GS Engineering and Construction (GS E&C) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop modular solutions for carbon capture facilities.
Advent-Lanxess Materials JV Takes Shape
The planned 60:40 specialty materials joint venture of German chemical producer and private equity group Advent International, announced at the end of May, is gradually taking on visible contours.
Cytiva Boosts Biomanufacturing with Cevec Buy
US life sciences company Cytiva has acquired Germany’s Cevec Pharmaceuticals, a move Cytiva said would further strengthen its leading position in biomanufacturing solutions. Financial terms were not revealed.
Barentz Buys US Distributor Viachem
Dutch life science ingredients distributor Barentz has acquired Viachem, a US-based company that distributes specialty chemicals, food additives and ingredients.
HHS Says Nplate Order not Sign of Nuclear Threat
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said last week it has budgeted $290 million to stock up on Amgen’s Nplate (romiplostim), a drug primarily used to treat acute radiation sickness in the event of a nuclear emergency.
Air Products to Build Green Hydrogen Plant in New York
US industrial gases producer Air Products said it will spend $500 million to build, own and operate a 35 t/d green liquid hydrogen plant at a greenfield site in Massena, New York.
Bachem Buys DSM’s Sisslerfeld Site
Swiss peptide and oligonucleotide specialist Bachem has agreed to buy an undeveloped site in Sisslerfeld from DSM. It has completed the purchase of a first plot, with others to follow in the coming years.
Finnish Energy Group St1 Plans Synthetic Methanol Plant
Energy company St1 is planning to build Finland’s first synthetic methanol plant, which will be located next to the Finnsementti cement factory on the Ihalainen industrial site in Lappeenranta.
Fluor Wins BASF China Contracts
Fluor has been granted two reimbursable contracts worth more than $2 billion for engineering, procurement and construction management services at BASF’s ethylene oxide/ethylene glycol (EO/EG) project in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, China.
Flexible Solutions and Lygos End Merger Plans
North American biochemical companies Flexible Solutions (FSI) and Lygos have called off their proposed merger. The companies did not give a reason for terminating the agreement, but said they remain committed to finding routes to sustainable aspartic acid and derivatives and would not let the end of their merger plans prevent them from working together in other ways.
Millipore CTDMO Services Opens Facility in France
Millipore CTDMO Services, part of the Life Science arm of Germany’s Merck, has opened a commercial facility in France.
Solvay Opens Microbiology Lab for Energy in UK
Solvay has opened a new advanced microlab for the energy sector at Oldbury in the UK.
Alexion Strengthens Genomics with LogicBio Buy
AstraZeneca’s rare disease arm Alexion has agreed to acquire LogicBio, a US clinical-stage specialist in genomic medicines.
Bloomberg Antipollution Fund Irks Industry
Michael Bloomberg’s $85 million campaign against the proliferation of large chemicals and plastics production complexes and the pollution they can cause has been praised by environmental advocacy groups but has not gone down well with representatives of the US industries.
Nouryon Expands Portfolio with ADOB Fertilizers Buy
Nouryon has agreed to buy ADOB Fertilizers, a Polish-based supplier of chelated micronutrients, foliars and other specialty fertilizers. The move will expand Nouryon’s product portfolio and broaden its offerings for customers in the crop nutrition market.
Azelis Acquires Italy’s Eurotrading
Azelis has entered into an agreement to buy Eurotrading, an Italian specialty chemicals distributor with an extensive product portfolio in actives, emollients and emulsifiers.
Merck Grants Sinopharm Rights to Covid Pills
US drugs giant Merck & Co has granted Sinopharm exclusive import and distribution rights to its oral Covid treatment Lagevrio (molnupiravir) in China.
Trinseo Consults Closure of German Styrene Unit
Trinseo is once again looking at the potential closure of its loss-making styrene production plant in Böhlen, Germany and is consulting with the local works council.
Solenis to Buy KLK Kolb’s Paper Process Chemicals
Solenis, globally oriented producer of specialty chemicals for water-intensive industries, has entered a definitive agreement with Kolb Distribution, part of KLK Kolb, to acquire Kolb’s paper process chemicals business. The deal is expected to close by the end of Q1 2023, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.
Green Hydrogen Is the Way out of the Energy Crisis
Green hydrogen is experiencing an enormous upswing in the current energy crisis. The increased demand will be difficult to meet on a local level. So, right on time, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is preparing to bring large quantities of the climate-friendly energy carrier from non-European countries to Western Europe.
GSK Names Julie Brown as First Female CFO
From next year, GSK’s top management will be led by a double female team, a pioneering move for the global pharmaceutical industry. The UK drugs giant this week announced the appointment of Julie Brown, the first woman to be its chief financial officer.
GSK Names Julie Brown as first female CFO
From next year, GSK’s top management will be led by a double female team, a pioneering move for the global pharmaceutical industry. The UK drugs giant this week announced the appointment of Julie Brown, the first woman to be its chief financial officer.
Arkema Ups Expansion Plans for Pebax Elastomers
Arkema has boosted its previously announced expansion plans for Pebax elastomer at its Serquigny site in France. The company will now increase capacity by 40% rather than the 25% it announced in January this year.
US Biotech Calyxt Considers Strategic Alternatives
The board of directors at US plant-based synthetic biology company Calyxt is evaluating potential strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value, the company announced on Sept. 22. Options may include financing alternatives, merger, reverse merger, other business combinations, an asset sale or licensing. A timescale for completing the process has not yet been disclosed.
Transition Pathways toward CO2 Neutrality
Chemical parks are locations of intensive value creation. They are a driver for sustainable development with a high economic, ecological and social impact.
