Company News
December 18, 2020
NCFI Houston Plant Operational
December 16, 2020
Lanxess Eyeing Kalama
Lanxess Said to Join Race for $1 Billion Emerald Kalama Chemical
By Kiel Porter , Andrew Marc Noel , and Aaron Kirchfeld December 15, 2020, 11:26 AM EST
- HIG, Rhone, TPG also interested in specialty chemicals firm
- American Securities running auction process for Emerald Kalama
Lanxess AG is among suitors interested in making a bid for private equity-backed Emerald Kalama Chemical, which could sell for around $1 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Cologne, Germany-based chemicals group is working with an adviser on a possible offer for the specialty chemicals company, which is being sold by American Securities, the people said. Emerald Kalama has also attracted interest from buyout firms HIG Capital, Rhone Capital and TPG, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information.
Representatives for American Securities, Lanxess, Rhone and TPG declined to comment. Representatives for HIG and Emerald Kalama didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
A sale of Emerald Kalama, which makes ingredients and preservatives used in foods and cosmetics, would mark American Securities’ exit from Emerald Performance Materials, a diversified group it bought in 2014 and has broken up. Dystar Global Holdings purchased Emerald’s polymer additives unit in 2016, while Huntsman Corp. bought the resin-ingredients business earlier this year.
Under Chief Executive Officer Matthias Zachert, Lanxess is on the hunt for acquisitions. The company has as much as 2 billion euros ($2.4 billion) to pursue dealmaking, Zachert said on an earnings call in November. Emerald Kalama would fit the CEO’s appetite for a higher-margin specialty chemicals asset. The specialty ingredients business being sold by Switzerland’s Lonza Group AG has also attracted interest from Lanxess, Bloomberg News reported last week.
December 16, 2020
Lanxess Eyeing Kalama
Lanxess Said to Join Race for $1 Billion Emerald Kalama Chemical
By Kiel Porter , Andrew Marc Noel , and Aaron Kirchfeld December 15, 2020, 11:26 AM EST
- HIG, Rhone, TPG also interested in specialty chemicals firm
- American Securities running auction process for Emerald Kalama
Lanxess AG is among suitors interested in making a bid for private equity-backed Emerald Kalama Chemical, which could sell for around $1 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.
The Cologne, Germany-based chemicals group is working with an adviser on a possible offer for the specialty chemicals company, which is being sold by American Securities, the people said. Emerald Kalama has also attracted interest from buyout firms HIG Capital, Rhone Capital and TPG, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information.
Representatives for American Securities, Lanxess, Rhone and TPG declined to comment. Representatives for HIG and Emerald Kalama didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
A sale of Emerald Kalama, which makes ingredients and preservatives used in foods and cosmetics, would mark American Securities’ exit from Emerald Performance Materials, a diversified group it bought in 2014 and has broken up. Dystar Global Holdings purchased Emerald’s polymer additives unit in 2016, while Huntsman Corp. bought the resin-ingredients business earlier this year.
Under Chief Executive Officer Matthias Zachert, Lanxess is on the hunt for acquisitions. The company has as much as 2 billion euros ($2.4 billion) to pursue dealmaking, Zachert said on an earnings call in November. Emerald Kalama would fit the CEO’s appetite for a higher-margin specialty chemicals asset. The specialty ingredients business being sold by Switzerland’s Lonza Group AG has also attracted interest from Lanxess, Bloomberg News reported last week.
December 16, 2020
BASF Geismar MDI Update
BASF Reaches Milestone of MDI Capacity Expansion Project at Geismar Site
The first phase of a new methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) synthesis unit at BASF’s Geismar, Louisiana site is complete and in operation.
Coatings World staff12.16.20
The implementation of the methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) capacity increase program for production facilities at BASF’s Verbund site in Geismar, Louisiana, is progressing on schedule. Over time, BASF targets to double the capacity from 300,000 metric tons per year to approximately 600,000 metric tons per year. With this stepwise capacity addition, BASF will support the ongoing growth of its North American MDI customers.
“The North American MDI market and our customers remain a key focus and we are pursuing this investment to support their growth,” said Ramkumar Dhruva, President of BASF’s Monomers division. “BASF supports customer growth by providing innovative polyurethane solutions that reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Some examples include improved insulation for buildings and lightweight materials for the automotive industry,” he explained.
Stefan Doerr, Head of BASF’s Monomers business in North America added: “The Geismar site is ideally suited for this investment thanks to its existing infrastructure, competitive raw materials and ongoing strong business support from state and local government. With this integrated facility, BASF will continue to be a leading MDI supplier in North America as well as globally.”
The first phase, which is the construction of a new MDI synthesis unit, is complete and in operation. At the same time, an older MDI synthesis unit is no longer in service. Although the instant capacity addition is limited, the new MDI production unit sets the foundation for future growth through capacity increases of upstream units.
In the second phase, for which construction is currently ongoing, BASF will be expanding several upstream units and by doing so, increase MDI overall output of the Geismar complex by approximately one third. Startup of this second phase is expected in the second half of 2021.
The potential final phase is targeted to be completed by mid of the decade; it is expected to bring the MDI capacity to approximately 600,000 metric tons per year.
December 16, 2020
BASF Geismar MDI Update
BASF Reaches Milestone of MDI Capacity Expansion Project at Geismar Site
The first phase of a new methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) synthesis unit at BASF’s Geismar, Louisiana site is complete and in operation.
Coatings World staff12.16.20
The implementation of the methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) capacity increase program for production facilities at BASF’s Verbund site in Geismar, Louisiana, is progressing on schedule. Over time, BASF targets to double the capacity from 300,000 metric tons per year to approximately 600,000 metric tons per year. With this stepwise capacity addition, BASF will support the ongoing growth of its North American MDI customers.
“The North American MDI market and our customers remain a key focus and we are pursuing this investment to support their growth,” said Ramkumar Dhruva, President of BASF’s Monomers division. “BASF supports customer growth by providing innovative polyurethane solutions that reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Some examples include improved insulation for buildings and lightweight materials for the automotive industry,” he explained.
Stefan Doerr, Head of BASF’s Monomers business in North America added: “The Geismar site is ideally suited for this investment thanks to its existing infrastructure, competitive raw materials and ongoing strong business support from state and local government. With this integrated facility, BASF will continue to be a leading MDI supplier in North America as well as globally.”
The first phase, which is the construction of a new MDI synthesis unit, is complete and in operation. At the same time, an older MDI synthesis unit is no longer in service. Although the instant capacity addition is limited, the new MDI production unit sets the foundation for future growth through capacity increases of upstream units.
In the second phase, for which construction is currently ongoing, BASF will be expanding several upstream units and by doing so, increase MDI overall output of the Geismar complex by approximately one third. Startup of this second phase is expected in the second half of 2021.
The potential final phase is targeted to be completed by mid of the decade; it is expected to bring the MDI capacity to approximately 600,000 metric tons per year.
Everchem Updates Archive 
Sign Up for Email Updates