DSM and Roquette to start bio-based succinic acid joint venture
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
Royal DSM N.V., the global Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company
headquartered in the Netherlands, and Roquette Frères, the global starch and
starch-derivatives company headquartered in France, today announce that they
have signed a joint venture agreement for the production, commercialization and
market development of bio-based succinic acid, subject to regulatory approvals
and notifications.
The formation of the joint venture is a new step following the successful
cooperation between DSM and Roquette pursuant to a joint development agreement
("JDA"). Since early 2008 the two companies have been working together to
develop the best and most sustainable fermentative technology to produce
bio-based succinic acid. The first testing volumes of this renewable and
versatile chemical building block - used in the manufacture of polymers, resins
and many other products - have already been produced in a demonstration plant in
Lestrem (France) that was built in 2009.
The positive results from this cooperation have led to the establishment of the
joint venture. DSM and Roquette will each have a 50% stake in the new entity,
Reverdia V.o.f., which will be headquartered in the Netherlands.
Volkert Claassen, Vice President DSM White Biotechnology, commented: "With the
adverse consequences of the world's dependency on fossil fuels becoming
increasingly apparent, fundamentally new approaches are necessary, not only for
energy but also for materials that are mainly based on petroleum as a raw
material. One day we need alternative sources anyway, but soon it will become
economically attractive due to increasing oil prices and - on top of this -
alternatives are more environmentally friendly. Today we are showing together
with Roquette that we - as a Life Sciences and Materials Sciences company - have
the capabilities and the commitment to develop and commercialize an important
chemical building block as yet another step towards a bio-based economy."
Guy Talbourdet, CEO of Roquette, said: "Bio-based chemistry will become
important in the future as fossil feedstocks will become scarce and more
expensive. We are proud that our alliance with DSM has succeeded in developing
the most sustainable bio-based succinic acid technology in such a short period
of time and we are looking forward to commercializing and scaling up the
production in the near future."
At the 7(th) annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology, taking place
this week in Washington D.C. (United States), DSM and Roquette will elaborate on
a recent technical breakthrough and proprietary process for the manufacture of
bio-based succinic acid that will contribute to overall superior economics and
an improved environmental footprint.
DSM and Roquette believe that fermentation based succinic acid will be able to
replace existing fossil based succinic acid as well as open new applications,
while at the same time delivering a better environmental performance. This
innovative technology to produce bio-based succinic acid from starch is unique
in the world.
This new production route delivers a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as
it sequesters carbon dioxide (CO(2)), and the proprietary process does not
produce any salts as waste. Bio-based succinic acid will thus enable customers
to produce products with substantially lower environmental footprints.
Many companies have already sampled and tested bio-based succinic acid from the
demonstration plant of Roquette produced pursuant to the JDA and intend to take
shipments from the joint venture upon its formation. The joint venture between
DSM and Roquette, which is subject to regulatory and other customary approvals
and notifications, plans to focus on applications such as 1,4 butanediol (BDO),
polyurethane resins, and biopolymers such as polybutylene succinate (PBS) into
applications among others in paints and coatings, automotive and textiles.
DSM and Roquette will be marketing bio-based succinic acid via the joint venture
Reverdia and are also working together to further expand their joint capacity.
DSM - the Life Sciences and Materials Sciences Company
Royal DSM N.V. creates solutions that nourish, protect and improve performance.
Its end markets include human and animal nutrition and health, personal care,
pharmaceuticals, automotive, coatings and paint, electrical and electronics,
life protection and housing. DSM manages its business with a focus on the triple
bottom line of economic performance, environmental quality and social
responsibility, which it pursues simultaneously and in parallel. DSM has annual
net sales of about ?8 billion and employs some 22,700 people worldwide. The
company is headquartered in the Netherlands, withlocations on five continents.
DSM is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. More information: www.dsm.com
Roquette Frères
Roquette is one of the world's most advanced starch and starch-derivatives
businesses and world leader in polyols (sugar alcohols). Roquette derives over
700 products from six million tons of maize, wheat, peas and potatoes, and adds
outstanding value to over 500,000 hectares of agricultural output. Roquette has
annual sales of more than EUR 2.3 billion and employs some 6,400 people
worldwide. Roquette is a private family business dedicated to long-term
development in the fields of the Nutrition & Health and the vegetal based
chemistry. With production facilities in Europe, North America and Asia,
Roquette serves customers all over the world in the food, animal nutrition,
pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, paper/board, biochemicals and chemicals sectors. The
company is headquartered in Lestrem (France). More information:www.roquette.com.
For more information:
DSM Corporate Communications DSM Investor Relations
Herman Betten Hans Vossen
tel. +31 (0) 45 5782017 tel. +31 (0) 45 5782864
fax +31 (0) 45 5740680 fax +31 (0) 10 4590275
e-mailmedia.relations(at)dsm.com e-mailinvestor.relations(at)dsm.com
Roquette Frères
Patrick Fuertes
tel. +33 (0) 3 21639246
fax +33 (0) 3 21633850
e-mailpatrick.fuertes(at)roquette.com
[HUG#1427644]
Press release-pdf: http://hugin.info/130663/R/1427644/375310.pdf
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Source: DSM N.V. via Thomson Reuters ONE
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Datum: 28.06.2010 - 08:15 Uhr
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