21.09.2011

Lanxess Sees Q3 Results To Exceed Last Year

Specialty chemicals company Lanxess said it expects a boost in demand for high-performance rubbers due to the European Union tire labeling legislation that comes into effect in 2012. Lanxess CEO confirmed the Group's earnings forecast for the full year 2011, because of the ongoing strong demand for synthetic rubbers, also used in winter tires. more09.09.2011

Aceto Q4 Earnings Declines On Higher Costs

Aceto Corporation, a provider of Pharmaceutical intermediates and specialty chemicals, announced a decline in fourth quarter on higher expenses, notwithstanding the growth in revenues. Lake Success, New York - based company recorded a net income of $3.5 million, or $0.13 per share, while its prior year profit was $4.2 million or $0.17 per share in the prior year. more15.08.2011

MEPI: Process Innovation Serving New Chemical Manufacturing Strategies

Following the AZF fertilizer plant blast in 2001, a brain-storming group was formed in Toulouse, France, to draw the lines of what would in 2007 become MEPI, la Maison Européenne des Procédés Innovants. more18.05.2011

Clariant Offer For Remaining Süd Chemie Shares

Swiss speciality chemicals maker Clariant said on Tuesday it had made a mandatory public offer for the 3.85% of Süd-Chemie shares it does not own. Clariant, which beat rivals to buy German group Süd-Chemie for €1.4 billion ($2 billion) in February, will offer €126.38 per share. more11.05.2011

AkzoNobel on Its Wireless Network at a Belgium Plant

Wireless Controls - Nicolas Delfosse, Process Engineer Surface Chemistry at AkzoNobel's surfactants processing plant in Belgium, explains why the lack of available I/O and high cable infrastructure costs have led the plant to adopt a wireless network based on the IEC 62591 (WirelessHART) standard.

Evolving government legislation, tight corporate environmental guidelines and a very competitive marketplace mean that AkzoNobel is continually looking to improve production processes. more11.05.2011

How Solvay Will Look After Taking Over Rhodia

Belgian chemicals group Solvay said the French financial markets authority has approved their friendly public offer for Rhodia.  Once the authorizations of the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel and the French Minister of the Economy are granted, the French financial markets authority will publish the timetable of the offer. Solvay outlined on Tuesday the rationale behind its €3.4 billion bid for French specialty chemicals group Rhodia before formally launching the offer on July 4. more27.04.2011

Ashland Shares Rise After Profit Widely Beats Expectations

Chemical maker Ashland posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit as it raised prices to counter rising raw material costs, sending its shares up more than 4% in premarket trading. The company makes a wide range of specialty chemicals, including Valvoline oil as well as materials for the packaging and water purification industries. Its improving results offer a small hint on broader economic recovery. more07.04.2011

Clariant Launches Rights Issue To Fund Süd-Chemie

Swiss specialty chemicals maker Clariant has launched a rights issue to help fund its €1.4 billion ($2 billion) acquisition of German group Süd-Chemie. Up to 23 million new shares will be offered to existing shareholders at a ratio of 1 new share for every 10 already held, Clariant said, with any stock not taken up to be sold in a public offering and private placement to new investors. Analysts said the number of shares being issued was slightly lower than expected, meaning the share dilution would be less than anticipated. more04.04.2011

Solvay Looks to Emerging Markets In $4.8 Billion Rhodia Buy

Cash-rich Belgian chemicals group Solvay is betting on emerging markets exposure and specialty chemicals with a €3.4 billion ($4.8 billion) cash bid for French group Rhodia. Monday's deal ends Solvay's year-long search for a takeover after it sold its drugs unit to its U.S. partner Abbott Laboratories in September 2009 for 4.5 billion. The offer of €31.60 per share for Rhodia, which has been recommended by Rhodia's board of directors, means Solvay will still have cash left over from its drugs unit sale. more16.02.2011

Clariant Buys Sued-Chemie

Clariant has agreed with the major shareholders of Süd-Chemie, Munich, Germany to take over a total of more than 95% of the shares. more