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Arkema
Name for New Total Chemicals Business
The new chemicals business of Total, which began
operating on October 1, 2004, has been named Arkema.
Arkema manufactures vinyl products, industrial
chemicals, and performance products and has annual
sales of $6.2 billion (Euro 5 billion). Total plans to
list Arkema separately in 2006 if market conditions
are appropriate. Thierry Le Hnaff has been appointed
CEO of Arkema. The other business units that comprise
the reorganized Total chemicals division (previously
operating under the name Atofina), include Total
Petrochemicals and the specialties group, which
includes Atotech, Bostik, Cray Valley, Sartomer and
Hutchinson.
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FDA
Reports on Progress in Improving cGMP
Performance
The U.S. FDA issued a progress report on
implementation of its Strategic Action Plan
for improving operational efficiency. Of some
300 specific action items, the agency claims
that 61 percent were ongoing and on-target,
with only 5 percent behind target as of the
end of July, 2004. Approval time for priority
drugs has been reduced by 21 days, with a goal
of 30, and average approval time for standard
drugs has been reduced by 55 out of a target
of 60 days. The FDA has focused on
"creating efficiencies, standardizing
processes, enhancing [its] infrastructure, and
improving [its] planning to create a stronger,
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Arkema, the vinyls, industrial chemicals and
performance products business recently spun
off from Atofina, will invest approximately
$150 million per year in R&D efforts to
foster innovation at its six global research
centers. Areas of focus include nanotechnology,
marine paints, fuel cells and catalysts. The
company is also looking to increase its
presence in Asia, aiming to double its annual
sales in the region by 2010. It plans to do so
by building new additives, organic peroxides,
fluorochemicals and technical polymers
facilities.
Once it completes the implementation of a new
SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP)
initiative, Sabic plans to reduce its
workforce by approximately 2000. The company
expects the software installation to be fully
operational by mid 2005.
Sigma Aldrich Corporation launched its new
SAFC business, bringing together all of its
fine chemicals activities, including the
recent Tetrionics and Ultrafine acquisitions.
Based in St. Louis, the business will be
comprised of three business segments - SAFC
Pharma, SAFC Specialties and SAFC Hitech. SAFC
Pharma focuses on cGMP manufacturing, process
development and contract services for both
small molecule and biopharma-based advanced
intermediates, offering support from the
preclinical stage through to clinical
development and commercialization. SAFC
Specialties provides raw materials plus
regulatory expertise and extensive quality
control capabilities to a broad range of
market sectors. SAFC Hitech targets the
performance materials market and assists
customers with converting ideas into products
and getting those products to market very
quickly.
Ferro has appointed James F. Kirsch president
and chief operating officer effective October
18, 2004. The COO position was vacant since
January, 1999. Kirsch has held positions with
Premix (president) and Dow Chemical (global
business director Propylene oxide and
derivatives and global vice president for
electrochemicals). At Ferro, he will be
responsible for global operations and will
also be part of the newly formed office of the
chairman.
Borden Chemical will purchase the Bakelite AG
business of Rutgers AG for an amount expected
to fall in the range of $215 - $245 million
depending on operating performance. The
acquisition expands Borden's position in
Europe and Asia and enhances its portfolio of
"technology solutions". The deal is
expected to close in the first half of 2005.
Bakelite manufactures phenolic and epoxy
thermoset resins and molding compounds and
earned sales of $610 million in 2003.
J.M. Huber finalized the purchase of the
remaining 71.4 percent of CP Kelco from Lehman
Brothers Merchant Banking Partners that it did
not previously own. CP Kelco will be merged
with Huber's chemical business, which includes
Novian and Huber Engineered Materials. With
the acquisition, Huber enhances its position
in the food, pharma and personal care markets
and expands its R&D capabilities.
Cognis Nutrition & Health has rolled out a
conceptual marketing campaign focused on the
idea that internal health is reflected in
external beauty. The company has launched
several new functional ingredients that meet
the demands of consumers for health products
designed to promote improved appearance
characteristics such as healthy skin, hair and
nails, a trim body and good muscle tone. These
ingredients include Tonalin CLA (Conjugated
linoleic acid), Grape seed extract and Green
tea extract for body shaping; beta-Carotene,
Lutein, Vitamin E and Bilberry ingredients for
sun protection; and Vitamin E, Lutein, Grape
seed and Red clover for anti-aging.
