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Combining strengths

Borealis to purchase DEXPlastomers

Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, has reached an agreement to acquire the shares of DSM Plastomers BV and Exxon Chemical Holland Ventures BV, each holding a 50% interest in DEXPlastomers V.O.F. in Geleen, The Netherlands, from DSM Nederland BV and ExxonMobil Benelux Holdings BV DEXPlastomers is a 50/50 joint venture ultimately owned by Royal DSM and ExxonMobil Chemical Company.

Following this agreement, the relevant employee representatives are being informed and consulted on the proposed sale to Borealis. The transaction is subject to customary approvals and notifications.

The products of DEXPlastomers are specialities complementary to Borealis’ current innovative plastic solutions. The agreement made with ExxonMobil Benelux Holdings BV and DSM Nederland BV underpins Borealis’ commitment to its Value Creation through Innovation strategy, as Borealis believes there is significant potential in DEXPlastomers’ technology. Visit: www.borealisgroup.com

Aker Solutions acquires Thrum Energy

Aker Solutions, the international oil services provider, is buying Canadian asset integrity management (AIM) company Thrum Energy Inc. The acquisition will grow Aker Solutions’ AIM portfolio and increase the company’s presence in the Atlantic Canada market. Thrum Energy is a St John’s, Newfoundland-based asset integrity management company. The company provides a diverse portfolio of quality services to both onshore and offshore assets in Canada. The acquisition supports Aker Solutions’ growth plans in North America in general and in St John’s and Atlantic Canada in particular. Aker Solutions currently employs 40 people in St John’s. The company is also present in Calgary, Alberta.

“This is an important acquisition both for our AIM business, which we want to grow significantly over the coming years, and for our ability to meet customer expectations in Canada,” says Tore Sjursen, head of maintenance, modifications and operations in Aker Solutions.

“We already have a strong presence with the AIM services we offer to customers on the Norwegian and UK continental shelf. With the acquisition of Thrum Energy we will increase our own competence as well as expand our offering to customers geographically,” Sjursen says. Visit: www.akersolutions.com

BOLZONI AURAMO and MEYER join forces in the BeNeLux

MEYER and BOLZONI AURAMO are joining forces in The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg. The product ranges of both brands will be jointly distributed through the Bolzoni Group operation based in Helmond, Bolzoni Auramo BV, offering highly qualified consultancy for the optimum logistics solutions for customer material handling applications.

Bolzoni Auramo BV further supports its customers through an experienced service team and well-equipped workshop for after sales, repairs, on-site installations and product modifications. A European rental fleet is available for both long- and short-term rentals.

This new organisation is now offering the most comprehensive range of innovative and high quality attachments in the market, supplied through the specialised product development centres and production facilities in Italy, Finland and Germany. Visit: www.bolzoni-auramo.com

Hexagon acquires 3D city modelling pioneer GTA Geoinformatik GmbH

Hexagon AB, a leading global provider of design, measurement and visualisation solutions, has signed an agreement to acquire the business of GTA Geoinformatik GmbH, a pioneer in georeferenced virtual 3D city models and highly efficient building reconstructions. Founded in 1995, GTA Geoinformatik is the developer of tridicon® software, which enables the automatic generation of highquality, coloured 3D point clouds. The company also specialises in uniting point cloud data with aerial images to create intelligent, navigable 3D city models, or smart cities.

“The idea of creating a smart city has been an important part of Hexagon’s geospatial vision to merge maps with information and real-time updates,” said Hexagon president and CEO Ola Rollén. “Solutions such as those GTA Geoinformatik delivers are becoming increasingly important, as they build the foundation for industry-specific applications in areas of city development such as security, traffic, infrastructure management, energy and emergency response.” Visit: www.hexagon.com

LINKINGUP

AkzoNobel expanding Middle East operations

AkzoNobel has underlined its growth ambitions for the Middle East after signing an expanded joint venture agreement with the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo group of companies.

The new deal strengthens the existing joint venture between AkzoNobel and Kanoo, which only covers the supply of the company’s International Paint brand, along with coil and packaging coatings. Under the terms of the expanded agreement, AkzoNobel will offer products from across its Performance Coatings portfolio, including professional woodcare, automotive refinish, marine, yacht, fire protection, protective and powder coatings.

“We are very pleased to build on our longstanding relationship with the Kanoo family by signing this agreement,” said Leif Darner, AkzoNobel’s executive committee member responsible for Performance Coatings. “It will give us a firm foothold in the Middle East and a solid platform from which to deliver on our ambitious growth strategy in the region. We see many opportunities for our products and services to supply the construction, oil and gas and transportation sectors in the Middle East and this deal will ensure that we are better placed to serve our customers.” Visit: www.akzonobel.com

Sagem and Thales strengthen joint subsidiary Sofradir’s infrared technopole

Sagem (Safran group), Thales and Sofradir have signed an agreement for Sofradir to acquire Sagem and Thales’ infrared (IR) detector technology development and manufacturing facilities. Sagem and Thales bring to Sofradir IR technologies originally developed for their internal purposes.

IR detectors are advanced technology components at the centre of multiple military, space, commercial and scientific applications: thermal imagers, missile seekers, surveillance systems, targeting systems or observation satellites. Their performance and price are key to the competitiveness of optronics systems.

Under the agreement, Sagem will transfer to Sofradir the Indium Antimonide (InSb) technology. The Quantum Well-Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) and Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) technologies will be transferred to Sofradir from the GIE III-V Lab, an economic interest group with partners Alcatel Lucent, Thales and research institute CEA (the French nuclear energy and alternate energies commission).

The acquisition will reinforce Sofradir’s leading position in Europe and pave the way to a global leadership position in the imaging market. Sofradir is currently ranked number one for volume deliveries of IR detectors based on its Mercury Cadmium Telluride (HgCdTe) technology. Visit: www.sagem-ds.com

DEUTZ AG to sell pipe manufacturing operation

AS part of the implementation of its production strategy, DEUTZ AG has sold its pipe manufacturing operation at the Cologne-Deutz site to T.ERRE Deutschland GmbH with effect from 1 April 2013. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. Outsourcing pipe manufacturing will optimise the value chain.

“For DEUTZ AG, outsourcing the pipe manufacturing business will bring significant efficiency improvements which are going to have a positive impact on our supply chain. We are also expecting to benefit from innovations made by our partner T.ERRE,” explained Gerhard Gehweiler, senior vice-president of Purchasing at DEUTZ.

T.ERRE will be manufacturing pipes at the Cologne-Deutz site until the end of 2014 and at the same time will set up a new production facility with growth prospects in the immediate vicinity. DEUTZ and T.ERRE have signed a longterm supply agreement for pipes and conduits. Visit: www.deutz.com

BASF and Gazprom agree on asset swap

DR Kurt Bock, chairman of the board of executive directors of BASF SE, and Alexej Miller, chairman of the management committee of OAO Gazprom, has signed a legally binding basic agreement to swap assets of equivalent value. Through the swap, BASF aims to further expand its production of oil and gas and to exit the gas trading and storage business. Through the agreement, two additional blocks of the Achimov formation of the Urengoi natural gas and condensate field in western Siberia will be jointly developed. A total annual plateau production of at least 8 billion cubic metres of natural gas is expected from the two blocks.

In return, Wintershall will completely transfer the currently jointly operated natural gas trading and storage business to its long-term partner Gazprom. Gazprom will also receive a 50% share in the activities of Wintershall Noordzee BV, which is active in the exploration and production of oil and gas in the southern North Sea (Netherlands, UK and Denmark). Visit: www.basf.com