Swedish-based NGO ChemSec has revealed that over 50 companies have joined the corporate PFAS Movement that it launched a little over a year ago. Three US companies, Naturepedic, Seventh Generation and Beautycounter, are among those who are now part of it, alongside the mainly European membership.
According to unconfirmed reports, the Omani state-owned energy company is considering an exit from OQ Chemicals eight years after acquiring it from private equity owner Advent International for slightly over $2.1 billion. Figures in the region of $3 billion have been cited.
Formerly known as Oxea Chemicals, OQ Chemicals is based at Monheim, Germany, and has sites in China, the Netherlands and the US, employing about 1,400 people. It mainly produces oxo intermediates and oxo derivatives.
The EU-funded Urbiofin project has stated that it is ready to demonstrate innovative processes in bioethanol production from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste and its use in chemical building blocks, proving the techno-economic and environmental viability of an integrated biorefinery.
2M Group operation Surfachem has officially opened its new formulation laboratory within the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre within the University of Huddersfield, UK, where it has been active since 2014. Mottie Kessler, CEO and chairman of 2M, was among those present to showcase formulation demonstrations within the personal care and home care laboratories
PharmaZell, a German-based producer of speciality APIs, and France’s CDMO Groupe Novasep are to merge under the ownership of PharmaZell’s current majority shareholder, private equity firm Bridgepoint. This remains subject to consultation with employees and other closing conditions.
Inotiv, a US CRO specialising in nonclinical and analytical drug discovery and development services, has reached an agreement to acquire research models and services Envigo. The cash and shares deal gives UK-headquartered Envigo an enterprise value of about $545 million, and the combined company one of around $1.2 billion.
ECHA has published the first database of substances of very high concern in products (SCIP) in the EU. This aims to enable consumers “to make more informed purchasing choices and help waste operators to further develop the re-use of articles and the recycling of materials,” the agency said.
