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Combining strengths

BASF to strengthen global crop protection business with acquisition of Becker Underwood

BASF plans to acquire Becker Underwood for a price of $1.02 billion (€785 million). The company, headquartered in Ames, Iowa, is one of the leading global providers of technologies for biological seed treatment, seed treatment colours and polymers, as well as products in the areas of biological crop protection, turf and horticulture, animal nutrition and landscape colourants and coatings.

“We are impressed with Becker Underwood’s ability to translate growers’ needs into innovative, tailor-made solutions that can promote higher yields while conserving resources. Becker Underwood is to become part of BASF and we are excited that together with our new colleagues we can continue expanding our competencies,” said Dr Andreas Kreimeyer, research executive director and member of BASF’s board of executive directors responsible for the Agricultural Solutions segment.

Becker Underwood is expected to achieve sales of $240 million (€185 million) for fiscal year 2012, ending on September 30. As part of the acquisition, BASF’s Crop Protection division will create a strategic global business unit called Functional Crop Care. Becker Underwood’s animal nutrition business will be integrated into BASF’s Nutrition & Health division. Visit: www.basf.com

Westinghouse and Hutní montáže announce strategic cooperation

Westinghouse Electric Company has announced a strategic cooperation with Czech construction/installation company Hutní montáže a.s, in preparation for the potential construction of Westinghouse AP1000® nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic and regionally.

If Westinghouse is awarded the AP1000 project in the Czech Republic, in response to its competitive tender submitted to Czech utility ČEZ, Hutní montáže would be responsible for performing the vast majority of the mechanical installation and corresponding construction testing, including assembly and installation of the containment vessel (CV). Hutní montáže could also provide heavy lifting cranes and rigging to offload, transport on-site and set components into the plant, including modules, the CV, and major nuclear steam supply system (NSSS) and balance of plant equipment.

The strategic partnership marks a further important milestone in Westinghouse’s ongoing initiative to develop local partners and deliver a highly competitive tender to ČEZ for the construction of two AP1000 reactors at the Temelín nuclear power plant site. Visit: www.westinghouse.com

Nokia and Virgin Atlantic to partner in wireless charging technology

Nokia has announced a deal with Virgin Atlantic to offer wireless charging facilities at its London Heathrow Clubhouse for passengers who want to recharge their phones before a flight.

Stylish and colourful Nokia wireless charging plates will initially be introduced in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at London Heathrow later this year. Nokia and Virgin Atlantic also plan to expand wireless charging to the JFK Clubhouse at a later date.

“Virgin Atlantic is putting passengers first by removing a major anxiety, particularly for business travellers – how to keep their phone charged throughout a long day,” said Jo Harlow, executive vice-president, Smart Devices, Nokia. “The Virgin deal is a first step in our plan to make wireless charging as ubiquitous as Wi-Fi is today.” Visit: www.nokia.com

Rio Tinto acquires BHP Billiton’s interests in Richards Bay Minerals

Rio Tinto has doubled its holding in Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) following the completion of its acquisition of BHP Billiton’s entire interests. The purchase price paid by Rio Tinto on completion was $1.7 billion.

Rio Tinto Diamonds & Minerals chief executive Alan Davies said: “Doubling our stake in this tier one asset further strengthens Rio Tinto’s titanium dioxide portfolio at a time when the long-term outlook remains robust. Demand for feedstocks is expected to grow strongly, needing the equivalent of a new operation the size of RBM to be built every two and a half years.”

RBM is a South African mineral sands mining and processing operation located in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Rio Tinto manages the RBM business and markets all of its products.

The remaining 26% of RBM is now owned by a consortium of local communities and businesses (24%) and RBM employees (2%), in line with South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment legislation. Visit: www.riotinto.com

LINKINGUP

Hexagon acquires minority stake in North West Geomatics

Hexagon AB, the leading global provider of design, measurement and visualisation technologies, is to acquire 10% of the shares in North West Geomatics Ltd.

North West Geomatics Ltd, also known as North West Group (North West), is a leading aerial data acquisition company dedicated to providing high quality aerial mapping and related spatial data services to engineering and mapping firms, environmental consulting organisations and government agencies. Besides housing the single largest library of high resolution imagery and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data in Canada, North West participates in large scale aerial data collection projects throughout the US and across the globe.

“Following a similar investment earlier this year in Blom, a leading European company in the same markets, this alliance further underscores our commitment to redefine the geospatial eco-system and provide new dimension to the industry overall,” said Ola Rollén, president and CEO of Hexagon AB. “Already a longstanding partner of Leica Geosystems and Intergraph, the expanded alliance with North West undoubtedly strengthens the utility and relevance of our current offerings and our continued ability to meet the ever-increasing needs of our geospatial customer base with industry-leading solutions.” Visit: www.hexagon.com

BEUMER Group acquires Indec Airport Automation

The BEUMER Group has acquired the majority shares of Indec Airport Automation (IAA). This airport equipment company, headquartered in Bree, Belgium, produces products for automated baggage loading onto planes. “Acquiring Indec Airport Automation is a logical addition to our product portfolio in the Airports sector,” said Dr Christoph Beumer, managing partner and chairman of the board at BEUMER Group GmbH & Co. KG.

Managing director and former owner Dirk Fransen will continue to run operations at IAA for the BEUMER Group as he had previously. IAA has 12 employees in Bree, Belgium. “The portfolio offers an immense reduction in flight transfer times at airports,” says Klaus Schäfer, CEO of Crisplant AS and head of the BEUMER Group’s Airport Logistics Business Segment in Aarhus, Denmark.

The BEUMER Group’s new products greatly simplify automatic baggage loading at airports. The first phase of the high automated system is already tested at Heathrow Airport in London. This solution saves between 50–70% in terms of space and staff, saving time and enabling substantially greater capacity. Another advantage is the accurate allocation of bags to ULD containers. Visit: www.beumergroup.com

Headset specialist Imtradex and INVISIO start cooperation

German Imtradex Hör-/Sprechsysteme GmbH and Danish INVISIO Communications A/S, two of Europe’s leading headset manufactures, are now working together. As part of the cooperation agreement, Imtradex will include INVISIO’s wide range of ear-microphones, which are based on the patented Bone Conduction technology, to their product range. It is an in-ear-headset technology that addresses the most demanding users and allows smooth communication in extremely noisy environments.

“With this collaboration our goal is to secure a larger presence across Germany with INVISIO’s innovative technology, which fits extremely well in to our product portfolio,” said Ralf Kudernak, managing director of Imtradex Hör-/Sprechsysteme GmbH. Visit: www.imtradex.com

Funkwerk AG sells Funkwerk Dabendorf GmbH

Funkwerk AG is set to sell Funkwerk Dabendorf GmbH, Zossen. The subsidiary consolidates the main activities of the group’s Automotive Communication (AC) segment. Funkwerk Dabendorf will be taken over by the novero group, Düsseldorf, which specialises in aspects such as professional mobile radio equipment in the automobile sector.

The sale does not extend to the facility site in Dabendorf/Zossen nor the 100% share held by the company in Funkwerk eurotelematik GmbH, Ulm. Under the agreement, both assets will be removed prior to execution of the contract and transferred to Funkwerk AG, Kölleda.

With the sale of Funkwerk Dabendorf GmbH, which generated sales of around €19 million and operating earnings of around €3 million in 2011, Funkwerk AG consistently continues its strategy of focusing on Traffic & Control Communication and Security Communication as its core segments. Visit: www.funkwerk.com