Press Archive 2008

The specialty chemicals Group ALTANA AG has been increasingly affected by the recession in many parts of the world.

ALTANA's Management and Supervisory Boards recommend acceptance of SKion offer

BYK has extended its portfolio with two new nano silica additives: NANOBYK®- 3651 and NANOBYK®- 3652. Together with the already well-established NANOBYK®- 3650, these new additives mean BYK can offer its customers a complete product family covering systems from low to high polarity.

The specialty chemicals Group ALTANA signed a contract to acquire the Dutch manufacturer of wax additives, Dick Peters B.V. The company, which is located in Denekamp, the Netherlands, is a subsidiary of the Swiss specialty chemicals company Clariant. In 2007, Dick Peters B.V. achieved sales of about €24 million.

Today SKion GmbH informed us about their decision to make an offer for the acquisition of shares in ALTANA AG.

ALTANA AG continues to back research and innovation also in economically more difficult times, just as it always has. For the first time since the repositioning of the Group with its concentration on the specialty chemicals business, about one hundred of ALTANA's top scientists and development engineers are coming together today and tomorrow in the Mercatorhalle in Duisburg in the first "ALTANA Innovation Conference".

Sales: plus 7 percent, Earnings (EBITDA): plus 18 percent, Outlook revised and increased

ECKART is pleased to announce the completion of its first production facility in Asia, located in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.

After having received the approval by the German antitrust authorities, ALTANA AG now completes the acquisition of the effect pigments business of the American company United States Bronze Powders Inc. (USBP) with immediate effect.

During the celebrations of the 100-year anniversary of SPCI, BYK officially honored the Norwegian company Tofteloftet A/S with the "Outstanding Paper Award".

The specialty chemicals Group ALTANA has signed a contract to acquire the effect pigment business of the American company United States Bronze Powders Inc. (USBP). In 2007, USBP achieved sales of approximately $8 million in this business area.

Sales: +7 percent, Earnings (EBITDA): +22 percent, Optimistic outlook is updated

Sales: up 2 percent (4 percent operating growth), EBITDA: up 13 percent; EBITDA margin at high level, Burdens due to exchange rate effects

Growing environmental awareness leads to changes in coating formulations, and one way to fulfill stricter requirements is the swap to higher solids systems.

As already announced ECKART 's metal surcharges will be adjusted on a quarterly basis.

At this years APCS in Kuala Lumpur from June 24 to June 26, BYK will be presenting innovative solutions. One focus will be on BYKs rheology additives and NANOBYK® UV absorbers.

At Zellcheming EXPO, from June 24 to June 26, BYK will be presenting innovative solutions for controlling interfacial phenomena in the manufacture and processing of paper.

BYK is one of the first companies in the chemical sector to complete the official pre-registration within the framework of the REACH regulation.

ELANTAS Electrical Insulation is announcing price increases for its wire enamel product line in Europe of 6% starting ...

At drupa 2008, from May 29 to June 11, BYK will be presenting innovative solutions for controlling interfacial phenomena in the manufacture and processing of paper.

Regular dividend of €0.25 , Special dividend of €0.26, Payout ratio of 33%, Total dividend payment of just under €70 million

Sales: plus 3 percent (operating growth: plus 5 percent), EBITDA: plus 16 percent, Positive earnings outlook confirmed

- Sales: +7 percent
- Earnings (EBITDA): +23 percent
- Optimistic outlook for 2007

ALTANA seeks delisting in the U.S.

Heavy-metal free additives for flexible laser marking

Producers of specialties to serve the packaging manufacturers' market have been confronted with a dynamic evolution which is still ongoing: Standard wide-spread materials such as aluminum are increasingly substituted by plastics and polymer composites. As a consequence manufacturers are confronted with innovative applications based on these new substrates and according demands of the end-consumer.

Laser induced markings have evolved into a common feature in our daily environment - just have a look at characters of computer keyboards, technical information on electronic parts, displays in cars or sealants for screw caps.

TPE to replace PVC

BYK-Chemie USA acquires Bergen Materials, Corp.

To celebrate the 100-year anniversary of SPCI - the
Swedish Association of Pulp and Paper Engineers - BYK Additives & Instruments is sponsoring the "Outstanding Paper Award".

- Dynamic growth in sales and earnings
- Dividend proposal: €0.25 per share
- Special dividend: €0.26 per share
- Positive outlook for the business year 2008

Joint press release from PolyIC, BASF, Evonik Industries, Elantas Beck and Siemens

Dr.-Ing. Georg F. L. Wießmeier (41) will take over responsibility at ALTANA AG, as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), ...

Underwriters Laboratories (UL), one of the world's largest Certification Organization, today announced that it has qualified and accredited the In-house Laboratory of ELANTAS Beck India Ltd. ...

Excellent start as pure specialty chemicals company
Sales: €1,380 million (+ 7%)
EBITDA: €248 million (+ 33%)

BYK-Gardner - worldwide partner of the automotive, paint and plastic industries for quality control of color, appearance and physical properties - is introducing a new instrument to objectively characterize the total color impression of effect coatings: the BYK-mac.