COMPANYNEWS

Advanced Biochemicals: a majorproducer of industrial enzymes

Advanced Biochemicals is one of theleading producers of industrialenzymes for various industriesranging from health care to starchprocessing, and breweries to textileprocessing. With 150 employees, thecompany is moving towards increasedgrowth. Advanced Biochemicalsreported revenues of Rup 301 M for2003-2004 (Rup 286.7 M in 2002-2003).

BioSpectrum, Aug 2004, 2 (8), 118 (Website:http://www.biospectrumindia.com)

Akzo combines Diosynth and Organoninto a single business

Akzo Nobel is to merge its Diosynthcontract manufacturing activity with itsOrganon prescription pharmaceuticalbusiness. This will bring benefits forthe development and marketing ofnew pharmaceuticals as well asbiotechnology products. A newbiotechnology research centre is to beestablished in Cambridge, MA. AkzoNobel is to invest a new parenteralproduction unit at Oss, TheNetherlands. This is scheduled toopen in 2007, in time for Organon’slaunch of at least two new injectionfertility and muscle relaxant drugs.The merger will result in around 60job losses out of a total workforce of14,500 (around 50 in Oss and the restat Roseland, NJ). Diosynth had a 1H2004 sales of €96 M (-24%). Organonhad 1H 2004 sales of €502 M (–13%).The group’s pharmaceutical sectoroperating profit was down 20% to€117 M. Diosynth sends around 50%of its production to Organon. Themerger will optimize managementfunctions and raise efficiency.

Chemical Market Reporter, 6 Sep 2004 (Website:http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & Chemicaland Engineering News, 6 Sep 2004, 82 (36), 13(Website: http://www.cen-online.org)

Avecia in catalyst distribution deal

Avecia has forged a global distributiondeal with Sigma-Aldrich relating toAvecia’s Pd EnCat encapsulated

palladium catalysts. The agreemententails plans to formulate andcommercialise additional new EnCatofferings. Pd EnCat impartsfavourable levels of activity in C-Cbond forming reactions and highselectivity in hydrogenation andtransfer hydrogenation reactions. Thecatalyst can reduce solventconsumption and waste and canenhance recovery, reuse, andrecycling of catalyst in commercialscale applications.

Manufacturing Chemist, Sep 2004, 75 (9), 17

Axens bid for FAME

Axens, France, is to supply itsEsterfip-H biodiesel process toDiester Industrie, France, for its new160,000 tonne/y fatty acid methylester (FAME) plant in Sète, France.The plant is scheduled to start up in4Q 2005. The plant is claimed to bethe first to use its heterogeneouscatalyst technology.

European Chemical News, 20 Sep 2004, 81 (2116), 32

Chiral Quest diversifies its activities inUSA and China

Chiral Quest, already well establishedas a producer of chiral catalysts foruse in the pharmaceutical and finechemicals industries, has decided todiversify its activities by setting up a100% subsidiary named VioQuestDrug Development. Chiral Questsales reached $0.669 M during 2Q2004 with 1H 2004 sales reaching$0.735 M. The new subsidiary willhave production facilities atMonmounth Junction in USA andJiashan in China. Chiral Quest’s mainclients for chiral catalysts includePhoenix Chemicals, Sigma-Aldrich,and DSM Pharma.

Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 30 Aug 2004, (265), 5 (inFrench)

Clean Diesel Technologies raises£1.025 M

Clean Diesel Technologies Inc (CDT)has signed a commitment letter withan existing UK shareholder for theissuance of £1.025 M of CDT’scommon stock at a price of£1.025/share. CDT expects theprivate placement to be completed by28 Sep 2004. The proceeds of the

fund-raising will be used to continuethe acceleration of the company’stechnology commercialisation in theUS, Europe, and Asia.

Press release from: Clean Diesel Technologies Inc,300, Atlantic Street, Suite 702, Stamford, CT 06901,USA. Tel: +1 203 327 7050. Fax: +1 203 323 0461. E-mail: information@cdti.com. Website:http://www.cdti.com (20 Sep 2004)

Clean Diesel Technologies’ testssuccessful

Clean Diesel Technologies Inc (CDT)has completed extensive independenttesting of its Platinum Plus fuel-bornecatalyst (FBC) in a wide range of fuelson four different engines at SouthwestResearch Institute in San Antonio.Results from these tests confirm thatthe FBC, when added to variouscommercial diesel fuels, can provideup to 35% reduction in dieselparticulate emissions (PM) and up to11% NOx reduction.

Press release from: Clean Diesel Technologies Inc,300, Atlantic Street, Suite 702, Stamford, CT 06901,USA. Tel: +1 203 327 7050. Fax: +1 203 323 0461. E-mail: information@cdti.com. Website:http://www.cdti.com (23 Sep 2004)

Degussa in H2O2 jv

A 50:50 jv, to produce hydrogenperoxide directly from hydrogen andoxygen, has been formed by DegussaAG and Headwaters Inc, of SouthJordan, UT. The companies aredeveloping the technology, expect aproduction unit to be built in 2008, andthat the technology (usingnanocatalysts supplied byHeadwaters) will reduce the cost ofhydrogen peroxide units (supplyingpropylene oxide production units) bybetween a third and a half.

Chemical Market Reporter, 4 Oct 2004 (Website:http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & EuropeanChemical News, 4 Oct 2004, 81 (2116), 29 &Chemisch2Weekblad, 1 Oct 2004 (Website:http://www.c2w.nl/welcome.html) (in Dutch) andPress releases from Degussa AG and Headwaters Inc(28 Sep 2004)

Engelhard 2003: annual report

For its fiscal 2003, Engelhard Corphas reported turnover of $3714 M($3753 M for its fiscal 2002), EBIT of$320.9 M ($263.3 M), net income of$234.2 M ($171.4 M), EPS of $1.84($1.31), R&D costs of $93.1 M ($88.2M), capital expenditures of $113.6 M

NOVEMBER 2004 3

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