Solvay reports better than expected Q4 results, raises dividend

Solvay reports better than expected Q4 results, raises dividend

Belgian chemicals group Solvay SOLB.BR reported record profits for 2022, beating a company-provided consensus after a stronger-than-expected fourth quarter mainly driven by higher selling prices, said the company.

The company, which makes lithium derivatives for batteries, said higher prices had offset weaker volumes and it would continue to maintain pricing power where possible, but warned it expects earnings to fall this year.

For 2023, Solvay said it sees its underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) declining by 3% to 9% from 2022 due to "softer volumes in key markets", including in chemicals, coatings and consumer markets.

Solvay Chief Executive Officer Ilham Kadri told Reuters plans to split the business into two public companies remain on track for completion in December 2023.

Fourth-quarter net turnover rose 21.6% year-on-year to 3.29 billion euros, driven mainly by higher selling prices across the business but also by sustained demand for soda ash and growth in civil aerospace and coating markets, the company said.

Its annual underlying EBITDA reached a new record in 2022, at 3.29 billion euros (USD3.49 billion), beating a company-provided consensus of 3.25 billion euros.

Quarterly EBITDA came in at 736 million euros, up 28.6% from a year earlier and also above a consensus of 703 million euros. The Brussels-based company raised its dividend by 0.20 euro to 4.05 euro per share, subject to shareholder approval.

We remind, Solvay in advanced negotiations to divest its stake in Rusvinyl. The company confirms it is in advanced negotiations to divest its stake in Rusvinyl, an independent 50/50 joint venture in Russia, to its joint venture partner, Sibur. In addition to the recently obtained preliminary clearance from Russian governmental authorities, the potential transaction is still subject to several other regulatory approvals. Solvay will keep the market informed if and when appropriate, in accordance with applicable law.

Solvay is a science company whose technologies bring benefits to many aspects of daily life. With more than 21,000 employees in 63 countries, Solvay bonds people, ideas and elements to reinvent progress.

mrchub.com

Asian Paints to set up manufacturing plant in Dahej

Asian Paints to set up manufacturing plant in Dahej

Asian Paints entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat government to set up a manufacturing facility in Dahej. The MoU was signed through its newly incorporated wholly-owned subsidiary, Asian Paints (Polymers), said the company.

Asian Paints subsidiary will set up the manufacturing facility for Vinyl Acetate Ethylene Emulsion (VAE) and Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) at Dahej, Gujarat.

In its regulatory filing, Asian Paints said, "the company will make necessary disclosures on any material developments in this regard from time to time." Last month, Asian Paints incorporated Asian Paints (Polymers) with a share capital of ?100 crore.

Last year, the company's board of directors approved the setting up of a manufacturing facility for VAE and VAM in India. For this, Asian Paints announced in October that it will invest ?2,100 crore over a period of three years.

The installed capacity of the said manufacturing facility would be 100,000 tons per annum for VAM and 150,000 tons per annum for VAE. VAM is a key input for manufacturing VAE.

In its regulatory filing on October 20, 2022, Asian Paints revealed that VAE is considered to be the emulsion of the future, and the key constituent for manufacturing environment friendly paints. VAE offers better paint properties and can significantly improve paint performance in customer-facing attributes.

Currently, Asian Paints already imports VAE & VAM for its internal consumption. This would be a key backward integration project for the company.

To manufacture VAM, the company has also entered into a technology and other allied agreements with KBR.

mrchub.com

INEOS buys Chesapeake assets for USD1.4 bn

INEOS buys Chesapeake assets for USD1.4 bn

INEOS Energy is entering US oil and gas production for the first time with the acquisition of a portion of Chesapeake Energy’s oil and gas assets in the Eagle Ford shale, south Texas for USD1.4 bn, said the company.

The deal marks INEOS Energy’s entry as operator into the US onshore oil and gas market, as it acquires 2,300 wells, producing net 36,000 BOED. The acquisition, which includes production and exploration leases across 172,000 net acres, is expected to complete in Q2, with an effective date of October 2022.

The addition of Chesapeake's assets and operations in south Texas is part of INEOS Energy’s strategy to build a global integrated portfolio, fit for the energy transition, offering high-quality, energy solutions to its customers.

Brian Gilvary Chairman INEOS Energy said, "The deal marks our entry into the US market and is another significant step in the INEOS Energy journey. Over the last two decades, US onshore oil and gas production has provided security of supply for the global market and competitive advantage for US industry. We believe this acquisition will help us to serve our internal and external customers today as we continue to position our business to meet the energy transition."

INEOS Energy incorporates all of the existing INEOS Oil & Gas assets. The business is committed to meeting society's energy needs through the current energy transition. INEOS Energy is actively producing and trading oil, gas, power and carbon credits, as well as investing in LNG, Hydrogen, and Carbon Capture and Storage.

We remind, INEOS has secured EUR3.5bn in financing for its Antwerp, Belgium, cracker project, set to have the lowest CO2 output of any unit in the continent. The plant, expected onstream in 2026, has the capacity to operate entirely on low-carbon hydrogen, with scope for the addition of a carbon capture facility and electric furnaces in future, according to INEOS. The estimated budget for the project, which INEOS made a final investment decision (FID) on last year, currently stands at EUR4.0bn

mrchub.com

Worley and CAM Industrial Solutions announce the sale and purchase of Worley's North American maintenance and turnaround business

An agreement has been reached with CAM Industrial Solutions LLC (CAM Industrial), whereby Worley will sell its maintenance and turnaround business in North America, which is part of Worley's Americas Field Services, for a cash consideration of USD 125 million (approximately AUD180 million), said the company.

Worley's construction and fabrication business in North America is not included in the sale. The sale also includes Worley's power operations and maintenance business. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and customary closure conditions and is expected to close in the second half of FY2023.

The North America maintenance and turnaround business is Worley's operating and shutdown maintenance craft work (non-professional services) in the USA and Canada, which supports refineries, petrochemical plants, and other industrial facilities.

Worley Chief Executive Officer Chris Ashton said Worley was delighted to be entering into this agreement with CAM Industrial and was looking forward to seeing the company continue to successfully service its many loyal customers across its markets.

CAM Industrial is a new company, formed by an investor group, led by Cross Rapids Capital L.P. (Cross Rapids Capital) and including strategic partner The Baupost Group. Cross Rapids is an operationally driven investment firm, focused on acquiring industrial and services companies in North America.

We remind, Corpus Christi Polymers LLC has awarded Worley construction management and general services contracts. The scope of the construction management contract includes Corpus Christi’s new polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and purified tereph-thalic acid (PTA) facilities in Corpus Christi, Texas, US. The scope of the general services contract includes providing support to the installation and maintenance of the construction of temporary facilities.

mrchub.com

Berry launches child-resistant PET bottles for pharma as flu remedy demand grows

Berry launches child-resistant PET bottles for pharma as flu remedy demand grows

Berry Global Healthcare is introducing a new PET bottle combination for the pharmaceutical syrup and herbal market for liquid medicines.

The bundle aims to help customers capitalize on the increasing demand for child-resistant and tamper-evident packaging. Customers can select the bottle and compatible closure with liners and dosing cups to meet their particular application and capacity requirements. To help companies meet their sustainability objectives, some bottles can be produced in 100% food-grade recycled PET.

Berry explains its new bundle features seven ranges of 28 mm neck PET bottles in sizes from 20 mL to 1,000 mL.
The package combination is supplied from eight Berry factories across Europe, ensuring a fast and flexible service for companies of all sizes to help them quickly bring products to market.

The company says it is utilizing its longstanding design and technical expertise in the healthcare sector to combine a range of bottle and closure solutions that can meet the market’s diverse needs.

Some of the bottles and closures are fully tested and certified as child-resistant to the latest global standards – ISO8317 standard (EU) and 16CFR1700.20 standard (US). Berry asserts these measures ensure that the packaging is safe and meets regulatory requirements.

We remind, Berry Global Group, Inc. is the first plastic packaging manufacturer in Europe to supply The Coca-Cola Company with a lightweight, tethered closure for its carbonated soft drinks in PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles. Bolstered by the European Union (EU) Single-Use Plastics Directive, Berry’s new tethered closure for Coca-Cola is designed to remain intact with the bottle – making it less likely to be littered and more likely to be recycled.

mrchub.com