U.S. chemicals group Reichhold secured EU antitrust approval on Friday for its proposed buy of Italian polymers maker Polynt after pledging to divest a facility in France to U.S. company Ashland Global Holdings.
Reichhold, owned by a group of investors including Black Diamond Capital, had announced the asset sale last month. The plant, located in Etain in north-east France, is Reichhold’s largest unsaturated polyester resin plant.
The European Commission said the asset sale addressed its concerns about the competitive impact of the deal.
Polynt is a leading European producer of resins which are principally used in the transportation and construction industries.
By Foo Yun Chee
Source: Reuters
BASF will build a commercial scale battery recycling black mass plant in Schwarzheide, Germany. This investment strengthens BASF’s cathode active materials (CAM) production and recycling hub in Schwarzheide. The site is an ideal location for the build-up of battery recycling activities given the presence of many EV car manufacturers and cell producers in Central Europe.
Clariant says it is reducing its number of businesses from five to three, by merging units, under a reorganization that is in line with the company’s purpose-led strategy and cultural transformation. The moves will position Clariant for long-term sustainable growth, the company says.
Chemicals & plastics industry has the most diversified end-use market across all manufacturing industries. The industry returned to growth in 2021 but a supply chain crunch prevented it from becoming stronger. The market is likely to stabilize in the second half of 2022 with a supply-demand balance.
