DSM to sell Euroresins to Cathay Investments

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Royal DSM, the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company, today announces it has reached agreement with Cathay Investments for the sale of Euroresins, said the company in its press-release.

Subject to customary approvals and notifications, the transaction is expected to close in Q1 2015. Financial details will not be disclosed at this time.

Euroresins is a distributor of products to the composite resins industry with activities in nine countries in Europe, including the United Kingdom, Italy and France. Euroresins realizes sales of approximately EUR90 million with around 70 employees. All employees will on the closing date transfer to the new owner.

The sale of Euroresins is in line with the strategic actions DSM is pursuing for Composite Resins, as announced in November 2014.

Cathay Investments is the UK holding company for a group of companies engaged in chemical distribution and trading. Cathay’s principal trading business is Cathay Composites, which distributes glass fiber, resins and other composite materials throughout the UK and Scandinavia. Since its establishment Cathay has grown its portfolio to six companies.

As MRC wrote before, Royal DSM signed a partnership agreement with long fibre thermoplastic (LFT) specialist Plasticomp (Winona, Minnesota / USA) to develop bio-based LFT composite materials based on DSM’s "EcoPaXX" polyamide 4.10. The lightweight materials, which include compounds reinforced with glass fiber as well as carbon fiber, will be targeted at automotive and other performance-driven markets.

Royal DSM is a global science-based company active in health, nutrition and materials. DSM delivers innovative solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance in global markets such as food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- With concrete admixtures from BASF's Master Builders Solutions concrete producers can be flexible and adjust to the needs of winter concreting; the jobsites can keep production going, reported BASF on its site.

Ice, snow and cold temperatures - any of these makes construction in the winter time challenging, especially for ready mix concrete producers and users. Often, projects have to be delayed due to the adverse weather conditions. Therefore, Master X-Seed can help concrete producers and contractors on key projects.

Hardening of concrete is a chemical reaction of cement with water. As any chemical reaction, hardening slows down with lower temperatures and nearly stops when the temperature is 5C and below. As a consequence, construction activity is greatly reduced during winter months. Generally, to produce and place concrete in these temperatures the concrete must first be heated at the concrete plant, then precautions need to take place at the job site such as the addition of accelerators, heating blankets and freeze protection. However, those measures are expensive and inconvenient. Accelerators and freeze protection agents bring about diminished workability control of fresh concrete and are limited in their usage in some markets and applications.

The accelerating admixture Master X-Seed enhances early age strength development of concrete by increasing the intrinsic reactivity of the cement. Master X-Seed is able to do this through its unique chemistry, which consists of very small crystal seeds. During the hydration of concrete these seeds provide the crystallization surface for the hardening cement past. This accelerates the hardening process, the heat development of the cement hydration kicks in earlier and ensures that the concrete core temperature and its hardening processes proceeds normally even at freezing temperatures outside.

Finally, the hardened concrete reaches the same mechanical properties as non-accelerated concrete under normal temperature conditions. This acceleration process takes place at all temperatures and provides ideal reactivity for cement, even at temperatures below freezing.

"A decisive advantage of using Master X-Seed is that - different to conventional accelerators - the rheology properties of the fresh concrete is not altered", says Jan Kluegge, Head of European Marketing Ready Mix for BASF. "All required workability classes including SCC can safely be achieved, even under high dosages the concrete does not get harsh or heavy to trowel as with conventional accelerators." Furthermore extended workability retention can be achieved leading to consistently high quality concrete installations.

Overall concrete works can be performed faster and with fewer efforts. The process of the construction project becomes largely independent of weather conditions and can safely and predictably be carried also under winter conditions.

As MRC wrote before, in March 2013, BASF started to roll out its Master Builders Solutions brand in Asia Pacific as part of a phased launch process. The global brand is a sign for BASF's commitment to the construction industry and represents a wide range of construction chemical solutions previously sold under a variety of specialty brands.

Under the Master Builders Solutions brand, BASF bundles its advanced chemical solutions for new construction, maintenance, repair and renovation of structures. The comprehensive portfolio under the brand encompasses concrete admixtures, cement additives, chemical solutions for underground construction, waterproofing solutions, sealants, repair and protection solutions, performance grouts, and performance flooring solutions.

BASF is the largest diversified chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries. BASF had sales of about EUR74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- German chemical distribution company Brenntag has signed an agreement to acquire the Swedish chemical distributor Fred Holmberg & Co AB, which focusses on the distribution of organic and inorganic chemicals in Scandinavia and provides efficient mixing and blending activities, said Business-standard.

The main site is located in Kalmar in the south-east of Sweden, with modern filling lines for packaging goods and directly connected to the harbour.

Karsten Beckmann, CEO, Brenntag Europe, Middle East and Africa, said, "With this acquisition we bring together two strong companies. Thereby Brenntag will further strengthen and expand its industrial chemicals product portfolio in the region. The transaction fits our industrial chemicals strategy and will broaden the portfolio of products to our customers in addition to our existing speciality range of products and services."

Fred Holmberg, owner and founder of Fred Holmberg & Co AB, said, "It is very exciting that we have come to terms with Brenntag. We are combining Fred Holmberg & Co AB’s cost-effective logistic set-up and Brenntag Nordic’s market penetration capabilities which enables us to further improve and develop our attractiveness to customers as well as to suppliers and producers in the region."

The acquired business is expected to generate total sales of approximately Euro 75.3 million in 2014. The transaction is expected to be closed during the first quarter of 2015.

As MRC wrote before, Brenntag began from February 1, 2014 distributing the cellulosic additive and latex powder portfolio of Dow Construction Chemicals in Germany and Austria.

Brenntag is the global market leader in full-line chemical distribution. Linking chemical manufacturers and chemical users, Brenntag provides business-to-business distribution solutions for industrial and specialty chemicals globally. The value-added services include just-in-time delivery, product mixing, formulation, repackaging, inventory management, drum return handling as well as extensive technical support. Headquartered in Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany, the company operates a global network with more than 400 locations in 70 countries.

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MOSCOW (MRC) -- Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) has appointed Yousef Al-Benyan as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), replacing Mutlaq Al Morished, as per Mubasher.

As reported earlier, on 15 December, Mutlaq Al Morished stepped out to join the National Industrialization Company (Tasnee).

As MRC informed before, in November 2014, KBR was awarded a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract by Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (Sabic) for the debottlenecking and expansion of its Petrokemya butadiene extraction plant in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

Arabian Petrochemical Company (Petrokemya), a wholly-owned affiliate of Sabic, is one of the largest manufacturing sites in Al Jubail.

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) ranks among the world’s top petrochemical companies. The company is among the world’s market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.
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MOSCOW (MRC) -- The German specialty chemicals group Altana has acquired two companies in Brazil, said the producer in its press-release.

As a result, Altana’s Actega division - which produces specialty coatings, sealants, printing inks, and adhesives for the rigid and flexible packaging industry – will now have its own sites in South America's largest country. Both of the acquired companies are owner-operated and headquartered in the federal state of Sao Paulo.

Premiata, which operates two facilities under the name of Premiata Tintas and Premiata Especialidades Quimicas, specialises, respectively, in printing inks and coatings for the packaging industry with140 employees. Overlake is an over-print varnishes specialist with 70 employees at one site.

"Through these acquisitions we are systematically expanding our business in the growing Brazilian market. As both companies focus entirely on specialty chemicals and tailored customer solutions they are a perfect match for Altana," explained Martin Babilas, member of the Management Board of Altana AG.

The Actega division's entire Brazilian operations will be concentrated in the new Actega do Brasil company with immediate effect. "Taking over Premiata and Overlake means we can significantly expand our portfolio of solutions particularly for the Brazilian packaging industry. I am convinced that our many years of expertise in printing inks and overprint varnishes combined with our new production facilities will swiftly make Actega the preferred supplier in Brazil," said Dr Roland Peter, president, Actega Division.

In addition to the newly acquired facilities, Altana already has a production and research site in Brazil run by its Elantas division that develops and distributes insulating materials for the electrical and electronics industry.

As MRC wrote before, Altana acquired technologies and customer-specific know-how in the field of polypropylene wax emulsions from Royal DSM. The products can be used to coat glass fibers which are needed for the manufacturing of composites. They are typically used in the construction industry and the automotive sector.

Altana develops and produces high-quality, innovative products in the specialty chemicals business. The Altana Group has four divisions: BYK Additives & Instruments, ECKART Effect Pigments, ELANTAS Electrical Insulation, and ACTEGA Coatings & Sealants. All of these divisions occupy a leading position in their target markets with respect to quality, product solution expertise, innovation and service.
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