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Circa to build Cyrene facility

Oslo-based biotech Circa Group has signed an agreement with French energy producer GazelEnergie. Under this, it will repurpose the former Emile Huchet coal-fired power station site, adjacent to the Carling Saint-Avold platform in north-eastern France, to make its Cyrene brand of renewable solvent at commercial scale.

Peptide partnership

CEM and AmbioPharm, two firms based in the Carolinas, have formed a partnership for the production of GMP peptides for the pharmaceutical industry. Under this, AmbioPharm will have exclusive rights to use CEM’s large-scale microwave technology for solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) at up to multi-kilogram quantities using proprietary scalable reactors.

Merck KGaA targets higher growth

At its virtual capital markets day on 9 September, Merck KGaA announced that it aims to increase group sales by 6%/year to about €25 billion/year by 2025. To this end, investment, which will increase by 50% in the  years 2021-2025 compared to 2016-2020.

“We will continue to consistently and purposefully invest in areas that make us strong,” said CEO and executive board chair Belén Garijo (pictured). Merck will also seek targeted acquisitions, which are most likely to be small to medium-sized.

Five into Heraeus accelerator programme

Following a digital pitch day and evaluation by an internal panel, Heraeus has launched its third ‘accelerator programme with five start-ups, who will have access to its research laboratories, test equipment and customer and partner network. The focus is on products for the semiconductor and precious metals industries.

Mitsui Chemicals to buy Meiji Seika agro business

Mitsui Chemicals Agro, the agrochemicals subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals, has agreed to acquire the agrochemicals business of its Japanese compatriot Meiji Seika Pharma. No financial details were disclosed, other than that the impact on total sales is expected to be minor.

The acquired business is based in Tokyo with a manufacturing subsidiary in Iwate and six branch offices, employing 110. It will be fully integrated into Mitsui Chemicals Agro. The company offers various formulations, including:

* Probenazole, the world’s first systemic acquired resistance type fungicide

Permira to exit CABB?

According to unconfirmed reports, private equity firm Permira is considering exiting from its ownership in CABB after seven years and an auction may begin next year. The German-headquarters fine and speciality chemicals producer could raise about $1.2 billion, it is estimated.

Permira, which has about €44 billion in committed capital around the world, originally acquired CABB from Bridgepoint in 2014. Four years later, it bought Evonik Jayhawk Fine Chemicals, adding a US presence to the company.

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