NEWS
Kuraray to divest
Following a review , Japan ’ s Kuraray has signed a basic agreement to divest the operations related to UV-based water treatment and ballast water treatment run by its Calgon Carbon subsidiary in the US to Italian firm De Nora Water Technologies , which is active in electrode- and water treatmentrelated operations . Further details were not disclosed .
Lanxess leather exit
Lanxess has completed the sale of its organic leather chemicals business to TFL Ledertechnik , a specialist in the field . The price comprises € 80 million , plus € 20 million to be paid in Q3 and up to € 115 million in performancerelated extras over three years . This follows the sale of the chrome chemicals business and a stake in a South African chrome ore mine , taking Lanxess out of leather chemicals .
DMC scale-up done
Two months after demonstrating commercial-scale ( 85 m 3 ) production of its first product , the amino acid L-alanine , DMC Biotechnologies has completed downstream processing . Both took place at EW Biotech ’ s site in Leuna . DMC is also now offering L-alanine at commercial scale following a manufacturing agreement with Conagen .
Further pharma buys for Aceto in US and India
Speciality life science materials player Aceto has made two further acquisitions , both in the pharmaceutical field , in Oregon-based Cascade Chemistry and Finar of India . Terms were not disclosed in either case . These bring the total number of buys the new-look firm has made in the past 15 months to five . Cascade is a CDMO that makes APIs , regulatory starting materials and advanced intermediates , with services in synthetic route optimisation , process development and scaleup . It claims expertise in alkaloids , heterocycles , steroids , terpenes , prostaglandins , phenylacetylenes and chiral syntheses . Prior to being acquired , Cascade had announced the construction of new facilities , which will triple manufacturing capacity for APIs for clinical trials and ultimately commercial production . This is expected to be operational in 2022 . Based at Ahmedabad and active in 50 national markets , Finar makes ingredients including GMP and pharmaceutical-grade solvents , advanced intermediates and GMP excipients , plus laboratory chemicals , aquaculture inputs and food grade additives . Aceto said that it will continue to support Finar ’ s facilities and offices . These deals followed the acquisition in April of A & C , which brought sites in North America to Aceto ’ s biopharma and cell culture portfolio . This includes nucleotides , nucleosides , bio-buffers and cell culture media ingredients like amino acids and vitamins . Aceto was already active in this field via Pharma Waldhof in Germany . In December 2020 , Aceto acquired IsleChem , whose core business includes chemical manufacturing , contract R & D , analytical services , and technical and support services . This brought in US-based supply to add to the existing supply network focused on India and China . Further expansion is planned at the site in Grand Island , New York . Previously , in April 2020 , Aceto had acquired Syntor Fine Chemicals , a UK-based , largely virtual manufacturer of fine chemicals for pharmaceutical and other life sciences markets . This brought additional synthesis and formulation capabilities , together with greater product customisation , the company said at the time .
New owner for Ferro
American Securities subsidiary Prince International is acquiring Ferro in a $ 22.00 / share deal that should close in Q1 2022 , subject to shareholder approval and regulatory clearance . Ferro will be combined with Prince itself and Prince ' s other subsidiary , Chromaflo Technologies , to create a $ 2 billion / year global player in colours , functional coatings and speciality minerals .
12 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981