Lanxess, BioAmber partner to develop renewable, phthalate-free, succinic acid based plasticizers that reportedly can exceed performance of phthalates at competitive prices

Alison Gallant

MINNEAPOLIS , October 20, 2011 (press release) – LANXESS, a global leader in phthalate-free plasticizers and BioAmber, a leader in sustainable chemistry, have partnered to develop succinic acid based plasticizers that are both renewable and phthalate-free. Under the terms of their joint development agreement, LANXESS and BioAmber are developing a portfolio of renewable succinic-based plasticizers that can exceed the performance of phthalates at competitive prices.

The partnership leverages both companies' strengths: LANXESS has a global commercial network that sells innovative, phthalate-free plasticizers including MESAMOLL®, ADIMOLL®, ULTRAMOLL® and UNIMOLL®. LANXESS also has plasticizer manufacturing expertise and capacity. BioAmber produces and sells biobased succinic acid in a 3,000 MT capacity plant in France and expects to bring on an additional 17,000 MT of succinic acid capacity in 2013 at a new facility in Sarnia, Canada, located on a site within LANXESS' Bio-industrial Park.

BioAmber and LANXESS have been working together for over 2 years assessing the performance and opportunities of succinate based esters in the plasticizer market. Based on the results seen to date, LANXESS and BioAmber believe that succinic acid based plasticizers can deliver the sustainability, performance and safety that the global plasticizer market is seeking. Samples are now available and the companies expect to begin commercialization in 2012.

"LANXESS systematically seeks advanced technologies to enhance the value of its offering. BioAmber's biobased succinic acid is a unique opportunity to develop a new generation of plasticizers combining full regulatory compliance with superior environmental background," said Jorge Nogueira, Senior Vice President Business Unit Functional Chemicals.

"Our partnership with LANXESS will accelerate penetration of the global plasticizer market and secure a first mover advantage for both companies. BioAmber's succinic acid offers a safe, sustainable alternative to phthalates and our additional plants in Sarnia and Thailand will ensure our customers have reliable, competitive supply," said Jean-Francois Huc, CEO of BioAmber.

About LANXESS

LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 7.1 billion in 2010 and currently around 15,800 employees in 30 countries. The company is at present represented at 46 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals. LANXESS is a member of the leading sustainable indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World and FTSE4Good.

About BioAmber, Inc.

BioAmber, a renewable chemistry company, is a market leader in the development and commercialization of biobased succinic acid and derivatives including 1,4 butanediol and modified PBS, a biodegradable plastic offering better heat resistance and processability than other biopolymers. BioAmber operates the world's first dedicated biobased succinic acid plant and has partnerships with Cargill, DuPont Applied Biosciences, LANXESS, Mitsubishi Chemical, Mitsui & Co. and PTTMCC Biochem. BioAmber is also leveraging its succinic acid experience and know-how to develop a biobased adipic acid platform. The company has offices and research labs in Minneapolis, MN, an office in Montreal, a sales office in Shanghai, China and a production plant in Pomacle, France. For more information, see www.bio-amber.com.

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