COVID causes more postponements
Mack-Brooks Exhibitions has announced the postponement of Europe ’ s largest fine and speciality chemicals trade show , Chemspec Europe 2021 , in view of continued uncertainties regarding travel restrictions and event planning during the COVID-19 pandemic . Last year ’ s show was twice postponed and finally replaced with a digital event . Chemspec Europe 2021 , the 35th in the series , was originally scheduled for 19-20 May at Messe Frankfurt . It will now be a hybrid physical-digital event on 29-30 September , merging the “ on-site offer with interactive digital networking opportunities ”. Portfolio director Liljana Goszdziewski said : “ Combining the two event formats will allow every exhibitor and visitor to attend Chemspec Europe 2021 in the way they feel most comfortable with – regardless of any lockdown regulations and travel restrictions .” Among other major events to have been rescheduled from 1H already are :
• DCAT Week , from March to 12-15 July
• Specialty & Agro Chemicals America from June to 8-10 September
• Chem UK , from May to 15-16 September
• In-Cosmetics Global , from March to 5-7 October
• Interphex / Chemspec US from May to 19-22 October
• NYSCC Suppliers ’ Day from May to 10-12 November Meanwhile , SOCMA has announced that its newly acquired Specialty & Custom Chemicals show , scheduled for Fort Worth in April , has been moved to 2022 . It will return to its usual slot in February . Exhibitors and attendees will have registrations automatically rolled over to the 2022 show . “ While there was great optimism surrounding vaccines for COVID-19 and renewed hope for 2021 , the emerging variant strains , slower pace of the vaccine rollout and continued company travel bans have made it clear we would not be able to bring you the in-person show you were anticipating ," SOCMA said .
PQ makes second key sale
PQ Group has followed the $ 650 million sale of its Performance Materials business to private equity firm The Jordan Company in December 2020 by agreeing to sell its Performance Chemicals business to a partnership of Cerberus Capital Management and Koch Minerals & Trading for $ 1.1 billion . Performance Chemicals supplies chemicals for diverse end uses , including personal and industrial cleaning products , fuel-efficient tyres , surface coatings , and food and beverage products . The deal is expected to close within 2021 . Proceeds from the sale will be used to distribute a $ 2.50-3.25 / share special dividend that will reduce debt by 45 % to $ 550 million , the company revealed . The earlier sale was expected to reduce debt by $ 465 million and lead to a $ 1.80 / share ($ 250 million ) dividend . Under the ‘ Simpler + Stronger ’ strategic path it set out in 2019 , PQ is focusing on its Refining Services and Catalysts Technologies businesses . These , it said , “ represent a unique opportunity to reposition PQ as a pure play , high growth company ”. To this end , it has also acquired Chem32 , a supplier of catalyst pre-activation services in the production of traditional and renewable fuels , from the founders for $ 44 million .
Regis completes expansion
Director of chemistry Siead Zegar in the expanded lab
Custom pharmaceutical services supplier Regis Technologies has completed and begun operations at an 835 m 2 expansion of its API development laboratory in Morton Grove , Illinois . This doubles capacity and boosts capabilities like analytical development , process chemistry , solid-state chemistry , validation , stability studies and commercialisation . " The desire to reduce supply chain risk , ensure quality , and maintain IP is driving a surging interest in domestic on-boarding of API development and manufacturing ", commented CTO Joe Miller . The expansion originally began in 2019 . New equipment includes process chemistry and analytical laboratories , a dedicated ICP- MS suite , extra climate-controlled storage , 14 fume hoods , several new kilo-scale reactors and process safety equipment for reaction calorimetry measurements .
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