Repsol and Monarch Alternative Capital invested in Canadian Enerkem

Enerkem
Enerkem in Westbury, Quebec

Canadian company Enerkem, a world leader in the production of low-carbon intensity biofuels and circular chemicals from waste materials, closed a new financing totaling $255 million. Repsol invests $170 million, of which $75 million is in Enerkem’s equity and $95 million in convertible debt. In doing so, Repsol joins existing shareholder Suncor Energy as a strategic shareholder to accelerate the adoption and deployment of Enerkem’s technology and to develop new projects in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). In addition, Monarch Alternative Capital, a new investor, is contributing $30 million to the round while Avenue Capital Group is reinvesting $30 million, both in convertible debt. Finally, there is $25 million reinvested in equity by some existing shareholders.

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The Italian bioeconomy takes a step forward: Versalis and Novamont strengthen their partnership

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Matrìca plant in Porto Torres, Italy

Versalis and Novamont are strengthening their partnership to reinforce synergies in the ecological transition of green chemistry, leveraging what has been built so far to maximize spin-offs and seize new opportunities. The commitment to Matrìca – the joint venture set up in 2011 between Versalis and Novamont at Porto Torres specializing in manufacturing bioproducts from renewable sources – has been reconfirmed.

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Circa Group takes a step forward in France

 

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Tony Duncan, CEO of Circa Group, at IFIB 2018 in Turin


Circa Group AS takes a step forward. The ReSolute™ project in France – the Australian company claims – has continued to progress well, with significant work undertaken to ensure plant costs are kept within updated estimates. In early Q1 2022 Circa announced €8.2 million in funding from the French government for the development of the ReSolute™ plant in Eastern France as part of the ‘France Relance’ programme.

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Anellotech and SHR renewed site host and services agreement for process development pilot plant

David Sudolsky - Il Bioeconomista
David Sudolsky

Anellotech and South Hampton Resources, Inc., a subsidiary of Trecora Resources, renewed their agreement for SHR to serve as site host and provide operations services for Anellotech’s TCat-8TM process development pilot plant, which is located inside of SHR’s Silsbee, Texas production plant. SHR owns and operates a 128-acre specialty petrochemicals facility at the Silsbee site, specializing in high purity hydrocarbons. The company originally began its site hosting relationship with Anellotech in 2016 with Anellotech’s development of its Bio-TCat process for producing petrochemicals from wood.
The original services agreement between Anellotech and SHR allowed Anellotech to install and then operate the TCat-8 unit inside the SHR plant.

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LanzaTech and Twelve partnered to produce world’s first polypropylene from CO2

Holmgren IFIB 2018
Jennifer Holmgren at IFIB 2018 in Turin, Italy

Carbon transformation company Twelve and biotechnology company LanzaTech partnered to transform CO2 emissions into polypropylene, a key polymer used for medical devices including syringes and IV bags, as well as for large-scale applications in automotive, furniture, textiles and other everyday products.

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Lululemon Athletica and Genomatica joined forces to create a lower-impact, plant-based nylon

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Christophe Schilling, CEO of Genomatica during his speech at the Grand Opening of Mater Biotech’s plant in Bottrighe di Adria, Italy

lululemon Athletica inc. signed a multi-year collaboration with sustainable materials leader Genomatica to bring renewably-sourced, bio-based materials into lululemon’s products. This represents lululemon’s first-ever equity investment in a sustainable materials company and Genomatica’s largest partnership within the retail industry. Together, the two companies will create a lower-impact, plant-based nylon to replace conventional nylon, which is the largest volume of synthetic material currently used to make lululemon products.

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Clariant and India Glycols Limited created a JV for renewable ethylene oxide derivatives

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Source: Clariant

Clariant, a focused, sustainable and innovative specialty chemical company, and India Glycols Limited (IGL), a leading company in the manufacturing of green technology-based chemicals, successfully created their 51-49% joint venture for renewable ethylene oxide (EO) derivatives after receiving all necessary regulatory approvals. The joint venture will operate under the name Clariant IGL Specialty Chemicals Private Limited.

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Global Bioenergies is going to launch its LAST longwear cosmetic brand

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Source: Global Bioenergies

French biotech company Global Bioenergies announced the upcoming launch of its “LAST®” longwear cosmetics brand in June 2021. Eighteen products will comprise the world’s first range of longwear, transfer-resistant and waterproof eye make-up to use natural ingredients. This groundbreaking performance is based on the renewable isododecane produced by the Company as the main ingredient of its formulations. Products have been designed with over 90% natural ingredients and packaging to minimise their environmental footprint.

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DMC Biotech and Conagen joined forces for the commercial production of L-alanine

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Denver, Colorado

DMC Biotechnologies and Conagen Inc. have entered into a manufacturing agreement for the commercial production of DMC’s first product, L-alanine. L-alanine is a naturally occurring amino acid used widely in homecare products, human nutrition, and pharmaceutical applications. DMC’s fermentation technology enables L-alanine to be produced with attractive economics as part of a regional supply chain with increased reliability and greater sustainability.

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An exclusive interview with Nicolas Sordet, founder and CEO Afyren

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“Simplification of the European regulatory framework could also go a long way toward accelerating and promoting the circular bioeconomy surge.“ Nicolas Sordet, founder and CEO of AFYREN, talks to Il Bioeconomista. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in France, AFYREN collected more than €70 million funding in 2019, which allows the company to grow from a pilot stage to industrial-scale production.

Interview by Mario Bonaccorso

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