celanese

　　　2004年に化学品のセラニーズを16億7000億ドルで買収したブラックストーンは、セラニーズ株を上場させた後、
　　株価上昇に伴い徐々に保有株を売却、2007/5　完全離脱。　経緯

Ticona　　　セラニーズAGのエンジニアリングプラスチックス事業担当

・Voluntary tender offer of EUR 32.50 per share
・Transaction with an enterprise value of EUR 3.1 billion
・Celanese Management Board and main shareholder KPC support tender offer

Celanese AG’s largest shareholder, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (“KPC”), holding approximately 29% of the shares of Celanese AG (excluding treasury shares), has undertaken to accept the tender offer.

ブルームバーグニュース 2004/4/1

米ブラックストーン、独セラニーズ買収を最終決定ーＴＯＢ成功で　　　セラニーズ歓迎

　米投資会社ブラックストーン・グループは１日、株式公開買い付け（ＴＯＢ）が成功したため、接着剤などに使われる酢酸生産最大手、ドイツのセラニーズを16億ユーロ（約2126億円）で買収する計画の完了を最終決定したことを明らかにした。
　セラニーズの株式全体の83.6％を保有する株主が、ブラックストーンの買収提案を受け入れた。

Blackstone Crystal Holdings Capital Partners (Cayman) IV Ltd. (BCP Crystal) and Acetex Corporation (Acetex) announced today that they have signed an Arrangement Agreement for BCP Crystal to acquire Acetex in a transaction valued at approximately CDN $600 million (USD $492 million). Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, BCP Crystal will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Acetex for CDN $9.00 (USD $7.38) cash per share. Acetex option and warrant holders are eligible to receive CDN $9.00 cash, less the exercise price of each option or warrant.

Acetex will be operated as part of BCP Crystal’s global Celanese chemicals business.

Acetex with 2003 revenues of USD $484 million and approximately 900 employees worldwide has two primary businesses - its Acetyls Business and the Specialty Polymers and Films Business. The Acetyls business, based in Europe, produces acetic acid, polyvinyl alcohol and vinyl acetate monomer.

Acetex is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The Company operates production facilities in France, Spain, and Canada, and sells to customers primarily in Europe, the United States, and Canada. Acetex’s common shares are listed for trading under the symbol “ATX” on The Toronto Stock Exchange, which has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.

Acetex has announced plans for a joint venture for the construction and operation of a USD $1 billion integrated world-scale acetyls facility in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Acetex is proceeding, in conjunction with its partners, with the front-end engineering design for the construction of the plant. The JV partner is National Petrochemical Industrialization Company (TASNEE). The project will benefit from favorable natural gas supply as well as from Acetex's proprietary integration technology. Acetex will own 50% of the acetyls company (acetic acid and VAM) and 25% of the methanol company and expects to enter long-term methanol supply agreements with the joint venture to cover its methanol requirements in Saudi Arabia and Europe.

November 23, 2004 Celanese

Celanese Announces Acquisition of Emulsion Polymer Business from ICI

Celanese announced today that it has agreed to purchase Vinamul Polymers, the emulsion polymer business of National Starch and Chemical Company (NSC), for $208 million, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. NSC is a subsidiary of Imperial Chemical Industries PLC (ICI).

Emulsion polymers enhance the performance of adhesives, paints and coatings, textiles, paper, building products and other goods. The Vinamul Polymers product line includes vinyl acetate-ethylene (VAE) copolymers, vinyl acetate homopolymers and copolymers, and acrylic and vinyl acrylic emulsions.

Celanese Corporation announced today the intention of a strategic investment in the construction of a state-of-the-art Vinyl Acetate Ethylene and Conventional Emulsion Polymer facility in China. The new plant will incorporate the leading technology from the other emulsions plants that Celanese operates around the world. The site selection process is in an advanced stage and the facility is planned to be operational in the first half of 2007.

Celanese made its first emulsions acquisition from Clariant in 2002 and completed the acquisition of the Vinamul emulsions business from ICI in February 2005. Celanese’s global emulsions business has 10 production facilities in Europe and North America and a leading position in its respective markets. The Celanese Emulsions buisness serves a wide variety of markets, including paints and coatings, adhesives, non-wovens, glassfiber, construction, paper, and textiles.

Celanese has been doing business in China since the 1960s and began to establish joint ventures in China in the 1980s. It has long-standing ventures in cellulose acetate and recently established a new polyacetal engineering plastics joint venture site in Nantong. In addition, Celanese operates a trading company in Shanghai and offices throughout the mainland China.

Celanese is currently building a 600,000 metric ton acetic acid plant in the Nanjing Chemical Industry Park in Nanjing, China. The plant will be ready for production in late 2006 or early 2007. The company also recently announced the investment in a world-scale 20,000 ton GUR(R) ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) plant in Asia that will be operational in the second half of 2007.

Celanese Corporation announced today that it has filed suit in district court in Harris County, Texas, against Saudi International Petrochemical Company, International Acetyls Company and International Vinyl Acetate Company seeking injunctive relief to prevent the defendants from using Celanese's trade secrets, confidential information and know-how in the construction and operation of vinyl acetate monomer and acetic acid facilities the defendants plan to build in Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

"Celanese commenced this action as part of its continuing efforts to ensure that its technology and other valuable intellectual property are not misappropriated or illegally used by our competitors," said John O'Dwyer, president of Celanese Chemicals, "Celanese will take all appropriate actions to protect its critical technological advantages."

Celanese's Petition alleges that the defendants engaged in a calculated campaign to misappropriate and commercialize Celanese's confidential information. The Petition asserts that defendants, acting directly and through agents, among other acts, aggressively recruited and hired former or current Celanese employees, identified and retained engineering and construction firms that had extensive experience working on Celanese's acetyl projects, and vendors and other suppliers with intimate knowledge of Celanese's trade secrets.

Celanese to Construct World-Scale Vinyl Acetate Monomer Plant in China;
Announces New VAntage Plus(TM) Technology for Vinyl Acetate

Celanese Corporation, announced today that it will build a 300,000 metric ton, world-scale vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) plant at the company's Nanjing, China chemical complex. The plant is expected to be operational in late 2007 or early 2008.

"As the world's leading producer of VAM and other acetyl-based products, we believe it is important to have a manufacturing presence in the world's fastest growing region to supply our customers with a reliable, locally produced product," said David Weidman, president and chief executive officer. "This investment is consistent with our strategy to maintain our number one position in the VAM market."

The VAM plant will receive acetic acid, a key raw material, from Celanese's 600,000 metric ton acetic acid plant in Nanjing, which will begin commercial sales in early 2007. The company currently operates seven plants around the world to produce VAM, which is used to make such products as paints, coatings, adhesives and fibers.

The company also announced today that in 2006 it will begin implementation of its next generation of VAM technology called VAntage PlusTM. The new technology will further improve production efficiency and lower operating costs as it is phased into Celanese's VAM units over the next several years. In 2005, Celanese completed implementation of its VAntageTM technology in the last of its six ethylene-based VAM units. VAntageTM not only enhanced production efficiency, but also increased Celanese's overall VAM production capacity by 265,000 metric tons,

Dec 13, 2006 Celanese

Celanese Signs Agreement to Sell Oxo Products and Derivatives Businesses to Advent International

Celanese Corporation today announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its oxo products and derivatives businesses, including European Oxo GmbH (“EOXO”), a joint venture between Celanese AG and Degussa AG, to Advent International, a global private equity firm, for the purchase price of EUR 480 million, which is approximately USD $630 million at current exchange rates. This sale is consistent with Celanese’s strategy to optimize its portfolio and divest non-core businesses.

The sale includes oxo and derivative businesses at Celanese’s Oberhausen, Germany, and Bay City, Texas, facilities; and portions of its Bishop, Texas, facility. ?EOXO’s facilities within the Oberhausen and Marl, Germany, plants are also included in the sale. As part of the transaction, Celanese will transfer all of the EOXO business to Advent International, including Degussa’s 50 percent interest of the venture.

Dec 22, 2006 Celanese

Celanese Reaches Agreement to Acquire Celanese AG Minority Shares

Celanese Corporation, a global hybrid chemical company, announced today that it has reached an agreement with the minority shareholders of Celanese AG, its German subsidiary, to acquire their shares for EUR 66.99 per share, the same price offered by Celanese in May 2006. The total purchase price for the minority shares, representing 2 percent of the outstanding shares, is approximately USD $80 million.
The minority shareholders have dismissed their legal actions challenging the completion of the acquisition of Celanese AG, which began in 2004.

February 15 2007 Ticona

Ticona Selects Nanjing, China, for New GURR Plant
Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Plant to Be Operational in Second Half of 2008

Ticona, the engineering polymers business of Celanese Corporation, announced today that it will locate a new GUR(R) ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) facility at the Celanese integrated chemical complex in Nanjing, China.

The new, world-class 20,000 metric ton plant will increase the company’s global GUR UHMW-PE capacity to 90,000 metric tons and is expected to begin commercial operations in the second half of 2008.

Celanese is currently developing its fully integrated acetyls complex at the Nanjing Industrial Park site, which consists of a 600,000 metric-ton acetic acid facility, a 300,000 metric-ton vinyl acetate monomer plant and a 100,000 metric-ton acetic anhydride 無水酢酸 unit. The company is also constructing specialty acetyl derivatives units to produce vinyl acetate ethylene emulsions and conventional emulsion polymers.

2分子の酢酸を脱水縮合させると無水酢酸が得られる。

Apr 30, 2007 Celanese

Ticona Selects Nanjing, China, for Celstranｮ Long-Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic (LFRT) Plant
Facility to be Operational in Early 2008

Ticona, the engineering polymers business of Celanese Corporation, announced today that it will co-locate a new Celstran(R) long-fiber reinforced thermoplasic (LFRT) plant at Celanese’s integrated chemical complex in Nanjing, China, scheduled to become operational in early 2008.

This new investment supports the companies’ Asia growth strategies, which also include previously announced plans to construct production facilities for Ticona’s GURR ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene at the Celanese Nanjing integrated chemical complex in Nanjing, China.

"Asia is a region of impressive growth opportunities for us and our customers,"said Roeland Polet, vice president of Ticona. "Targeted investment in the construction of compounding and production facilities in this region will strengthen our position as a leading global supplier of LFRT. When the new facility is operational in Nanjing, we will have a global production capacity of more than 35,000 tons per year," Polet said.

At the present time, Ticona produces LFRT in Kelsterbach, Germany, and Winona, Minn.

May 23 2007 Ticona

Ticona to create new Customer Application Development Center in Shanghai
Wide range of locally based services in Asia as part of global support network

Ticona, the engineering polymers business of Celanese Corporation, announced plans today at Chinaplas 2007 to create a Customer Application Development Center in Shanghai. When completed, the new Center will be part of a global support network that includes similar Ticona centers in Kelsterbach, Germany, and Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA.

In mid-May, Ticona also held a ground-breaking ceremony in Nanjing, China for two new production plants- one for GURR ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) and the other for Celstran(R) long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (LFRT). Both facilities are being built in the Nanjing Chemical Industrial Park adjacent to the Celanese integrated acetyls complex. The LFRT facility will come on stream in the first half of 2008, while the UHME-PE plant will be completed in the second half of 2008. The new production facilities will bring Ticona’s annual global capacity for GUR to more than 90 000 tonnes and raise its annual global Celstran LFRT capacity to more than 35 000 tonnes.

Seven months after completing the $3.8 billion buyout of Germany's Celanese, Blackstone has filed a preliminary prospectus with the Securities & Exchange Commission to raise $750 million in an IPO of some of its stock in the now U.S.-based firm. Blackstone hasn't set a date for the offering yet, but says that funds raised will go to paying itself a dividend and cutting Celanese debt.

Instead of waiting the typical three years or more to begin selling their positions in chemical assets, "investment bankers are being opportunistic," given the fairly strong demand for U.S. chemical stocks, says Michael Judd, an analyst at independent research firm Greenwich Consultants.

Blackstone has raised anticipated proceeds from its planned initial public offering (IPO) of a partial stake in Celanese to $1 billion, up from $750 million, according to regulatory filings last week. Share pricing or size of the stake to be offered was not disclosed....

January 14, 2005 CBS.MarketWatch.com

Blackstone's $1B Celanese IPO kicks off '05

The Blackstone Group kicks off the 2005 season for initial public offerings in coming days with a $1 billion deal from chemical firm Celanese, one of many IPOs expected from private equity firms this year.

Celanese to raise $1 billion
Celanese plans to offer 50 million shares at $19 to $21 each in a bid to raise about $1 billion via underwriters Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Lehman Brothers.
The company plans to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CE."

Blackstone issued plans in December 2003 to buy the firm for about $3.8 billion. Celanese AG of Germany traded U.S.-listed shares under the ticker CZ.
Celanese is going public amid an expected upswing in the chemical business this year, according to industry observers.

2007/5/29 www.plasteurope.com　　　　経緯

Celanese: Blackstone sells its remaining stake

Private equity giant Blackstone has completed its exit from chemicals and plastics producer Celanese. Blackstone received nearly USD 785m (EUR 581m) from the offering. Celanese, parent company of engineering plastics producer Ticona, did not receive any of the proceeds. This was the last of several major stock transactions by Blackstone since acquiring the chemicals arm of the former Hoechst in 2004. In all, it is believed have earned USD 5 bn on the takeover.

July 27 2007 Ticona

Celanese Selects Frankfurt-Hoechst Industrial Park as Site for Ticonas Kelsterbach Relocation

Celanese Corporation, a global, hybrid chemical company, today announced that Frankfurt-Hoechst Industrial Park has been selected as the new site for Ticona’s Kelsterbach production operations in Germany.

In November 2006, Celanese and Ticona, the engineered materials business of Celanese, along with Fraport, the operator of the Frankfurt airport, agreed that Ticona’s Kelsterbach chemical plant would relocate by mid-2011 in order to make room for an airport expansion.

On September 19th, 2007 Celanese Corporation, a global hybrid chemical company, celebrated the inauguration of its integrated chemical complex in Nanjing. The Complex is located in the Nanjing Chemical Industrial Park, Jiangsu province, East China, one of the two national chemical parks approved by the National Development and Reform Commission.
Celanese's integrated chemical complex in Nanjing brings world-class scale and leading technology to one site for the production of acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomer, acetic anhydride, emulsions, Celstran (R) long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (LFRT) and GUR(R) ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE).
The complex will further enhance Celanese's capabilities to better meet the growing needs of its customers in a number of industries across Asia. The acetic acid facility has been running at full production rates since June 2007 and production of vinyl acetate emulsions is set to commence by the end of 2007. Operations for four other plants will begin throughout 2008.

Ticona adds compounding unit to Nanjing complex
The 15,000 tonnes a year operation to grow Ticona’s Asian footprint.

Ticona is to add an integrated compounding unit at the recently opened plant of its parent company Celanese at Nanjing, in China, further extending its strong position in the Asian market.

The new 15,000 tonnes a year operation, scheduled to start up in the first quarter of 2009, will produce advanced engineered compounds for customers in the region in a variety of the company’s engineering thermoplastics. The polymers from which compounds will be made at the Nanjing plant include Vectra liquid crystal polymers, Hostaform polyacetal, Celanex thermoplastic polyester, Riteflex TPE and Fortron PPS.

Ticona to Build Vectra LCP Unit at Celanese’s Nanjing Integrated Chemical Complex
　　Facility to be Operational in 2010

Ticona, the engineering polymers business of Celanese Corporation, announced today that it plans to build a new Vectra(R) liquid crystal polymer (LCP) production facility co-located at the Celanese integrated chemical complex in Nanjing, China. Construction is slated to begin in the first half of 2009, and the facility is projected to be operational in 2010. (7,000t/a)

Ticona currently produces Celstran(R) long fiber reinforced thermoplastic (LFRT) and GUR(R) ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) at the Nanjing complex. The GUR unit successfully began commercial operations in July 2008. A compounding unit is scheduled to be operational in early 2009.

Oct 26, 2009 Celanese Corporation

Celanese Announces Emulsions Expansion in China
New investment responds to growing demand for VAE emulsion technology; Expansion to support company’s growth throughout Asia

Celanese Corporation, a leading, global chemical company, today announced it is expanding its vinyl acetate/ethylene (VAE) manufacturing facility at its Nanjing, China, integrated chemical complex. The investment will support continued growth plans for the Celanese Emulsion Polymers business throughout Asia, including China, India and Southeast Asia and Australia. The expanded facility will double the company’s VAE capacity in the region and is expected to be operational the first half of 2011.
“This expansion anticipates continuing strong growth for high performing VAE emulsions in the region,” said Doug Madden, Celanese corporate executive vice president. “Celanese is committed to growth within China and across Asia, and this expansion is a solid example of our ongoing investment in the region. We recognize the importance of planning for the future growth of our Emulsions business and are preparing for growth by building upon our past success at our Nanjing facility.”
The emulsions expansion is the latest in a number of investments by Celanese in China. Nanjing is currently the largest integrated site in the Celanese global manufacturing network with six production units including acetic acid and vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), several units from Celanese’s Ticona business and the existing emulsions plant.
“Since our first manufacturing activities in China just over three years ago, Celanese Emulsion Polymers has grown into a thriving organization in China and is presently expanding across Asia, into India and surrounding countries, Southeast Asia, and Australia,” said Phil McDivitt, general manager, Celanese Emulsion Polymers. “As a global leader in vinyl-based chemistries, Celanese Emulsion Polymers brings innovation to our customers and we will continue to introduce cutting-edge products such as our EcoVAEｮ emulsions,” said McDivitt.
EcoVAE emulsions, introduced in 2008, are high-performing binders used in low odor, low VOC, environmentally-friendly paints and coatings. In addition, the emulsions expansion will support many industries including adhesives, waterproofing, building and construction.
The new VAE emulsions plant will yield manufacturing and supply chain synergies with the company’s current facilities that manufacture vinyl-based homo- and copolymers, pure acrylic and VAE emulsions. The expanded facility will be built utilizing best-in-class technologies drawn from the company’s global manufacturing footprint including Europe and the Americas.

Dec 3, 2009 Celanese Corporation

Celanese Signs MOU with China National Tobacco Corporation to Expand Flake and Tow Capabilities at Nantong Facility

Celanese Corporation, a leading, global chemical company, today announced it has previously signed a memorandum of understanding with its acetate joint venture partner, the China National Tobacco Corporation, to expand flake and tow capacities at its joint venture facility in Nantong, China. Additionally, a feasibility study has been completed by the partners and the expansion project is currently under review and is awaiting final approval by the appropriate Chinese government agencies.

JV
Nantong Cellulose Fibers Co.,
Zhuhai Cellulose Fibers Co. and
Kumming Cellulose Fibers Co

Celanese Develops Advanced Technology for Production of Industrial-Use Ethanol
Manufacturing Capability Planned for China and U.S.

Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company, today announced its intention to construct manufacturing facilities in China and the U.S. to utilize recently-developed advanced technology for the production of ethanol for chemical applications and other industrial uses. Celanese's innovative process technology builds on the company's industry-leading acetyl platform and integrates new technologies to produce ethanol using basic hydrocarbon feedstocks.

"We are very excited about our technology advancement as it allows us to address growing global demand for ethanol in industrial applications," said Dave Weidman, chairman and chief executive officer. "The company has successfully integrated newly developed technologies with elements of our proprietary advanced acetyl platform to provide an economically-advantaged solution for global ethanol needs."

Following necessary approvals, Celanese intends to construct one, and possibly two, industrial ethanol complexes in China to serve the fast-growing Asia region. Initial annual production capacity of each complex is expected to be approximately 400,000 tons. The company could begin industrial ethanol production within 30 months after project approvals. Current chemical application demand for ethanol in China is approximately 3 million tons annually and is expected to grow between 8% and 10% per year. Celanese's technology allows capacity to be more than doubled at significantly less than the original investment to meet future demand. The China units would utilize coal as the primary raw material.

Celanese also intends to build an approximately 40,000 ton industrial ethanol production unit at its Clear Lake, Texas, facility for either internal use or merchant demand. The unit will also support continuing technology development efforts over the next several years. Following approvals, construction of the unit is anticipated to begin in mid-2011 and to be completed by the end of 2012. The Clear Lake facility would utilize natural gas as its primary raw material.

Weidman also said: "While we are focusing on industrial uses at this time, we are also exploring opportunities to apply this technology to fuel ethanol applications in regions where the commercial environment is supportive."

Celanese Signs Letters of Intent for Ethanol Production Facilities in Nanjing and Zhuhai, China

Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Celanese Far East Limited, has signed letters of intent to construct and operate industrial ethanol production facilities in Nanjing, China, at the Nanjing Chemical Industrial Park and in Zhuhai, China, at the Gaolan Port Economic Zone.

Pending project approvals, Celanese could begin industrial ethanol production within the next 30 months with an initial nameplate capacity of 400,000 tons per year per plant with an initial investment of approximately USD$300 million per plant. The company is pursuing approval at two locations to ensure its ability to effectively grow with future demand.

The projects will use Celanese’s newly developed advanced technology to produce industrial ethanol. This innovative, new process combines Celanese’s proprietary and industry-leading acetyl platform with highly advanced manufacturing technology to produce ethanol from hydrocarbon-sourced feedstocks. To meet future demand, Celanese’s technology also allows capacity at each facility to be more than doubled at significantly less than the original investment.

Industrial ethanol is used in chemical and industrial applications for the manufacture of paints, coatings, inks and pharmaceuticals. Current demand for industrial ethanol in China is approximately 3 million tons annually and is expected to grow between 8% and 10% per year.

In September 2007, Celanese’s Nanjing Integrated Chemical Complex officially opened with world-class scale, technology and production facilities. The primary products at the site include acetic acid, vinyl acetate, acetic anhydride, vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer emulsion, Celstran ® long fiber reinforced thermoplastics and GUR ® ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE). The Celanese Nanjing Integrated Chemical Complex is the company’s largest integrated chemical plant, reflecting the company’s long-term commitment to the Asia region.

About Celanese
Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of specialty materials and chemical products which are used in most major industries and consumer applications. Our products, essential to everyday living, are manufactured in North America, Europe and Asia. Known for operational excellence, sustainability and premier safety performance, Celanese delivers value to customers around the globe with best-in-class technologies. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company employs approximately 7,400 employees worldwide and had 2009 net sales of $5.1 billion, with approximately 73% generated outside of North America. For more information about Celanese Corporation and its global product offerings, visit www.celanese.com.

Ashland has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its polyvinyl acetate homopolymer and copolymer (PVAc) business to Celanese. Revenues of the product lines were approximately $45 million in 2010. The purchase price was not disclosed. The proposed transaction includes the transfer of the PVAc business, inventory and related technology. The sale does not include any real estate or manufacturing facilities.

Ashland is making the transaction to better focus its resources on more strategic assets and product lines. The transaction is expected to close within 60 days, subject to fulfillment of certain conditions, and the parties have agreed to work together to ensure a seamless transition with no disruption in customer service. To better support the transition, the products will be temporarily toll manufactured for Celanese.

The ISP elastomers business is being integrated into the Ashland Performance Materials commercial units. Elastomers had significant sales in the transportation market, as well as the position in specialty adhesives, both of which complement Performance Materials. In 2011, elastomers accounted for $410 million of ISP’s $1.9 billion of sales.

米セラニーズコーポレーションとテキサス州でメタノール製造事業に参画

　三井物産と米国化学品大手の Celanese Corporation（本社：テキサス州ダラス市）は、折半出資の事業会社を設立しテキサス州クリアレイクのセラニーズ社工場内でメタノール製造を行うことで合意し、合弁契約書を締結しました。
　三井物産は米国シェールガス・オイル革命により安定供給と価格競争力が期待できる原料ガスの優位性に着目し、世界第2位のメタノール市場である米国で事業参画の機会をうかがってきました。一方、メタノール需要家であるセラニーズ社は、パートナーとの合弁によるメタノール製造事業を検討しており、両社の意向が合致した結果、同事業を共同で推進することとなりました。
　同事業では、グローバルに販売ネットワークを持つ三井物産と世界最大のメタノール需要家の一社であるセラニーズ社がパートナーを組み、年産130万トンの大型プラントを建設します。原料の価格競争力に加え、セラニーズ社のインフラを活用することで建設費用を抑え、更にコスト競争力を高めます。製造したメタノールは両社が引取り、三井物産は主に米国内で販売し、セラニーズ社は自社の川下製品の原料として使用します。
　三井物産とセラニーズ社は、今後同事業に続く共同事業の検討などを通じて長期的なパートナーシップを構築していきます。また、三井物産が既に取り組んでいる米シェールガス関連事業とも連携して、天然ガスから化学品へのガスバリューチェーンを築き、エネルギー事業と化学品事業の共同取組により総合力を発揮していきます。
　メタノールは接着剤や合成樹脂、医薬品などに加え、近年では中国を中心にエネルギー関連製品や石油化学製品の主要原料であるエチレン・プロピレンの製造にも用いられるなど多岐にわたる産業の基礎原料として使用されており、今後も安定的な需要の伸長が見込まれます。三井物産とセラニーズ社は、メタノールの安定的な供給や川下製品の供給を通じ、メタノールを使用する幅広い産業の発展に貢献していきます。

合弁契約書の概要
事業内容　メタノール製造事業
出資構成　三井物産100%出資米国子会社：50%
　　　　　セラニーズ社100%出資米国子会社：50%
所在地　米国テキサス州
総プロジェクトコスト　約8億米ドル
年間生産量　約130万トン
稼働開始時期　2015年央
出資形態　LLC
　 LLC（リミティッド・ライアビリティー・カンパニー）とは、米国州政府が制定した法律に基づき設立される有限責任の企業形態の一つです。

Celanese and Mitsui Entered Into an Exclusivity Agreement for Potential Methanol Unit at Bishop, Texas

Celanese Corporation, a global technology and specialty materials company, and Mitsui & Co., Ltd., of Tokyo, Japan, entered into an exclusive arrangement to explore a joint venture for methanol production at Celanese’s integrated chemical plant in Bishop, Texas.

The potential methanol unit at Bishop is expected to have an annual capacity of 1.3 million tons and would leverage the design benefits of the Clear Lake, Texas methanol unit that is currently under construction. Celanese has filed for air permits with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a potential methanol unit in Bishop, Texas and a final decision to build the unit will consider several factors, including prevailing methanol market conditions as well as construction costs.

The companies also entered into an amended five year arrangement for Celanese to purchase methanol from Mitsui, upon completion of the methanol unit at their joint venture in Clear Lake, Texas. Start-up of the unit is expected in October 2015.

“We are pleased to expand our partnership with Mitsui. Together with Mitsui, we will explore the benefits of an additional methanol unit at our Bishop, Texas facility to ensure our long-term and competitive supply of methanol,” said Mark Rohr, chairman and chief executive officer, Celanese Corporation. “The supply agreement, along with our own methanol production at Clear Lake, Texas, will ensure that we are balanced in our methanol needs in the US, but it will not completely offset our methanol-related earnings headwinds.”

Brings a global leader and flagship brand in thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPV) to Engineered Materials’ leading customer solution set

Celanese Corporation, a global chemical and specialty materials company, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the Santoprene™ TPV elastomers business of Exxon Mobil Corporation. Celanese will acquire the industry-renowned Santoprene™ brand as part of a comprehensive TPV product portfolio, along with intellectual property, production and commercial assets, and a world-class organization.

“With the acquisition of the Santoprene™ business, we are further expanding the unrivaled portfolio of engineered solutions we bring to our customers,” said Lori Ryerkerk, chairman and chief executive officer. “This transaction represents a high-return opportunity to drive future shareholder value by deploying our excess cash from the monetization of our passive ownership in Polyplastics and continued strong cash generation in our businesses. We are eager to welcome the Santoprene™ team to Celanese and look forward to their contributions to our continued growth in Engineered Materials.”

“This transaction substantially strengthens our existing elastomers portfolio, allowing us to bring a wider range of functionalized solutions into targeted growth areas including future mobility, medical, and sustainability,” said Tom Kelly, senior vice president Engineered Materials. “The reputation of the Santoprene™ brand in TPV is consistent with Engineered Materials’ flagship brands including Hostaform® in POM and GUR® in UHMW-PE. With this product as part of the Engineered Materials portfolio and project pipeline model, we are confident that our joint commercial and technical teams across the globe will generate meaningful shareholder value.”

Transaction Overview

The Santoprene™ business of ExxonMobil is a leading global producer of TPV serving a variety of end-uses including automotive, construction, appliance, medical, and industrial. TPV is a chemically cross-linked, high-performance material which leverages a unique combination of engineering thermoplastic and elastomer properties. The Santoprene™ portfolio is highly functionalized to specific application requirements and is supported by industry-leading intellectual property.

According to the terms of the definitive agreement, Celanese will acquire the Santoprene™ business from ExxonMobil for a total purchase price of $1.15 billion on a cash-free, debt-free basis. As part of the transaction, Celanese will acquire the following:

Santoprene™, Dytron™, and Geolast™ trademarks and product portfolios
All customer and supplier contracts and agreements
Two world-scale production facilities in Pensacola, Florida, U.S. and Newport, Wales, U.K. with over 190 kt of total annual production capacity
Comprehensive TPV intellectual property portfolio with associated technical and R&D assets
Approximately 350 highly-skilled employees including world-class manufacturing, technical, and commercial organization

The Company expects the transaction to be immediately accretive to 2022 adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow.

The acquisition is expected to be financed by excess cash and available liquidity on the Celanese balance sheet.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, carve-out preparations, and other customary closing conditions, which will determine the timing of close. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Celanese is advised by Kirkland & Ellis LLP as principal legal counsel and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC as financial advisor.

1987	Hoechst AG acquires Celanese Corporation for $2.85 billion. After the approval of the friendly takeover by the U.S. cartel authorities on February 20, 1987, Celanese and American Hoechst Corporation join forces to form Hoechst Celanese Corporation in the U.S. Celanese strengthens Hoechst's fiber, organic chemical and specialty chemical businesses.
1997	As a result of the strategic realignment of Hoechst AG, the various businesses are transferred to independent companies. The global basic chemical, cellulose acetate, phosphorous and chlorine businesses become part of Celanese. The independent company Ticona - market leader in the field of polyacetals - runs the technical polymers business.
1998	At its autumn press conference, Hoechst announces plans to demerge most of its chemical activities to the new Celanese AG because it is the most direct, quickest and simplest way to speed up the transformation of the Group. On December 1, Hoechst and Rhone-Poulenc S.A. announce their plans to merge their life science businesses into the new company Aventis S.A., based in Strasbourg.
July 16, 1999	At an Extraordinary General Meeting of Hoechst AG, the overwhelming majority of shareholders agrees to spin off Celanese AG into an independent company. The so-called demerger is part of Hoechst's strategy of focusing on its life science businesses.
October 25, 1999	Celanese AG becomes a publicly traded German stock corporation listed on the New York and Frankfurt stock exchanges.