According to a company release, the new joint venture, which will be 80% owned by CAAS’s wholly own subsidiary, Hengsheng, will be based in Sao Paulo and established with two local Brazilian automotive partners, with ownership of 15% and 5%, respectively.

Mr. Hanlin Chen, Chairman of China Automotive Systems, stated, “Brazil is the most important economic engine in South America, and China has surpassed the United States as Brazil’s leading trade partner. The automotive market is on the rise in Brazil, with current annual OEM demand estimated at 3.5 million vehicles and a rapidly growing aftermarket sector.

CAAS has seen Chinese automakers, such as Chery Auto, one of its largest customers, successfully penetrate the Brazilian market with high quality, value-added vehicles and believes it can also leverage this trend.

According to Chen, CAAS local partners have proven track records in production and distribution.

“The company believes its strong product development capabilities and high quality control processes for mass production will create tremendous value for local OEM and aftermarket customers. This joint venture will enable the company to capitalize on the significant growth opportunities presented by Brazil and South America, as a whole,” said Chen.

Based in Hubei Province, the People’s Republic of China, China Automotive Systems, Inc. is a leading supplier of power steering components and systems to the Chinese automotive industry, operating through nine Sino-foreign joint ventures. The Company offers a full range of steering system parts for passenger automobiles and commercial vehicles.

The Company currently offers four separate series of power steering with an annual production capacity of over 3.5 million sets, steering columns, steering oil pumps and steering hoses.

Its customer base is comprised of leading Chinese auto manufacturers, such as China FAW Group, Corp., Dongfeng Auto Group Co., Ltd., BYD Auto Company Limited, Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd., Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. and Chrysler North America outside of North America.

The Brazilian foray will serve as a platform from where to launch the Chinese auto manufacturer’s products in Latin America.

Brazil is the world’s seventh largest economy with an average annual GDP growth rate of over five percent. In 1999, Brazil established a tire collection framework and has passed legislation dealing with scrap tires, setting targets for collection and proper disposal for all participants of the tire market through the National Council of the Environment (CONAMA).

According to ANIP (Association of Tire Manufacturers), US$143.6 million has been invested for proper disposal of 3,770 million pounds of end-of-life tires from 1999 to June, 2011.

Alan Barton, Lehigh chief executive officer said; “Geographic expansion is key component of Lehigh’s growth strategy. Brazil is a growing economy with many of the company’s key customers and segments present and thriving.”
Responsibility toward end-of-life tire collection is an important element in determining where Lehigh expands its footprint, indicating market interest in sustainability, said Barton.

Kedar Murthy, general manager and vice president of tire and industrial rubber noted; “Brazil’s experience and history in establishing legislation and associations that support the industry of recycling end-of-life tires indicates that the market is interested in increasing its use of sustainable materials. Moreover, there is a sophisticated and diversified industrial base that embraces new technology.”

De Ranieri’s, Lehigh Technologies’ new country manager for Brazil, experience includes Gilbarco Veeder-Root and Argent Trading as well as business ventures involving the automotive industry.

Lehigh Technologies’ proprietary manufacturing process takes end-of-life tire and other post-industrial rubber material and “upcycles” it into micron-scale, high quality, sustainable powders that are compatible with customers’ existing formulations, making it easy to integrate into new or existing products.

This material not only helps companies achieve sustainability goals, but also can improve performance attributes such as water resistance, energy savings and flexibility, while delivering significant costs savings over virgin raw materials.

Lehigh Technologies is a leading green materials manufacturer that turns end-of-life tire materials and other post-industrial rubber into sustainable powders that can be used in a wide range of industrial and consumer applications.

Today there are 100 million tires manufactured containing its products.  Lehigh Technologies is a World Economic Forum 2010 recipient of The Technology Pioneer Award for its visionary leadership and transformational technology.

Headquartered in Tucker, GA, Lehigh Technologies is privately held and backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Index Ventures and NGP Energy Technology Partners.

Terphane is currently owned by Vision Capital, an international investment firm. The company currently produces over 38,000 tons per year.

The approximate purchase price of $188 million will be funded using available cash on hand and financing from Tredegar’s existing $300 million credit facility. Tredegar expects that the acquisition will be accretive within the first year following the acquisition. Closing of the acquisition, which is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions, is expected later this month.

With revenues of approximately $160 million for the last twelve months, as of June 30, 2011, Terphane is a market leading producer of thin polyester films in Latin America with a growing presence in strategic niches in the United States. Polyester films have specialized properties, such as heat resistance and barrier protection, which make them uniquely suited for the fast-growing flexible packaging market.

Terphane is headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil and operates two manufacturing facilities in Cabo, Pernambuco Brazil and Bloomfield, New York. It enjoys long-standing relationships with prominent Latin American and multinational customers.

Nancy Taylor, Tredegar’s President and CEO, commented, “Tredegar has been working for some time to find an acquisition that meets its stated goals for market expansion and customer and product diversification.”

“Terphane’s high-value, differentiated products will extend Tredegar’s product offerings into adjacent specialty films markets and allow the company to expand in Latin America, which is one of the fastest growing and dynamic geographic markets in the world,” said Taylor.

Tredegar Corporation is primarily a manufacturer of plastic films and aluminum extrusions. A global company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Tredegar had sales of $740 million in 2010. With approximately 2,000 employees, the company operates manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Vision Capital is an innovative private equity investor focused on delivering comprehensive strategic transactions for sellers. Vision Capital has operations in Europe and the Americas and a multi-sector approach with specialist expertise in Financials and Real Estate, Industrials and Manufacturing, and Business Services and Consumer.

Tredegar was advised by Deloitte Corporate Finance LLC.

CBMM, a Brazilian company located in Araxá in the state of Minas Gerais, is the world leader in the development, industrialization and commercialization of niobium products. CBMM has over 50 years of successful operating history and has been a pioneer in developing niobium applications and related technology.

Niobium is mainly used as an alloying element in steels, increasing strength and toughness simultaneously, and resulting in end-products with enhanced efficiency and environmentally friendlier. Key applications include: automotive industry, oil and gas transmission pipelines, large structures such as bridges, towers and buildings, and aircraft engines.

Brazil holds the largest part of total known niobium reserves in the world according to data from official agencies, and CBMM is thought to hold rights to the best niobium reserves in Brazil. Such investment has a very relevant strategic value for all parties.

Worldwide demand for niobium recorded an annual growth rate of some 10% from 2002 through 2009, buoyed by growing need for high-grade steel. Demand for niobium is projected to grow faster than the expansion in world crude steel production.

Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM) is part of the Moreira Salles Group and is involved in the extraction, processing, manufacturing and marketing of niobium-based products.

A profit sharing agreement between state-owned CODEMIG and CBMM ensures the rational exploitation of the niobium deposit located near the city of Araxá, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The contract concedes 25% of CBMM’s net operational profits to the state of Minas Gerais.

CBMM is the only niobium producer present in all market segments. It has subsidiary companies in Europe CBMM Europe BV (Amsterdam), Asia CBMM Asia Pte Ltd. (Singapore) and in North America, Reference Metals Company Inc. (Pittsburgh).
CITIC is a conglomerate that now owns 44 subsidiaries (banks) including those in Hong Kong, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The company has also set up representative office in Tokyo, New York and Rotterdam.

By the end of 2006, CITIC’s total assets stood at RMB 929.2 billion with an after-tax profit of RMB 6.09 billion.

With 2010 sales revenue of $54 million, Scandiflex’s manufacturing capabilities and customer relationships in Brazil will enable Eastman to accelerate growth of its PCI segment’s non-phthalate plasticizer business in the Latin America region. In addition to regional diversification of both sales and manufacturing, Scandiflex also brings several complimentary non-phthalate products to Eastman’s broad portfolio of plasticizer products.

The acquisition is an important next step in Eastman’s global growth strategy and positions the company to grow as demand increases in Latin America for non-phthalate plasticizer products, said Ron Lindsay, executive vice president, performance chemicals and intermediates and fibers.

Eastman is confident that Scandiflex’s strong customer connect and reputation as a reliable supplier in the Latin America market will provide it additional opportunities for future growth in this fast expanding region, said Lindsay.

Eastman’s chemicals, fibers and plastics are used as key ingredients in products that people use every day. Approximately 10,000 Eastman employees around the world blend technical expertise and innovation to deliver practical solutions.

The company is committed to finding sustainable business opportunities within the diverse markets and geographies it serves. A global company headquartered in Kingsport, Tenn., USA, Eastman had 2010 sales of $5.8 billion.

Eastman manufactures the chemicals, fibers and plastics that give everyday products the strength, design and functional characteristics desired by consumers and commercial customers worldwide.

Scandiflex is the only South American company with the most diversified line of polymeric and monomeric plasticizers, including phtalates, adipates, citrates, maleates, sebacates, azelates and trimellitates.

The products are destined to diversified industries such as paints, varnishes, films, calendering, adhesives, wire and cables, toys, packaging, plastics, rubber, textile, plastisoles, products for hospitals and veterinary use and for crop protection.

The plant in Mauá, São Paulo, has installed capacity to produce 20.000 MT/year and is being expanded to 25.000 MT/year. In addition to plasticizers mainly linked to PVC, rubber and its compounds, the company manufactures polyester-polyols and polyurethane systems for shoe soles and other applications, di-esters for lubricants and other specialties which are destined to the local market and to exports.

Colauto was founded as a family enterprise in 1962. The company operates a production site in São Paulo and generated sales of CHF 40 million in 2010 with a workforce of approximately 250. Colauto enjoys an excellent reputation in Brazil as a customer- and solution-led company with a strong market position in Latin America.

For Colauto’s present owners Sika is the ideal partner. In Sika, Colauto has found a strong, international owner which fully leverages its capabilities and long term perspectives in the global automotive industry.

Latin America’s automotive industry has a high growth potential and the significance of Brazil as car manufacturing country continues to increase. Through the acquisition of Colauto, Sika will gain access to this key growth market and be able to expand its global position.

Sika’s Head of Automotive Global Thomas Hasler said Brazil is currently the world’s sixth-largest automotive-producing country. Sika’s customers here expect a broad cost-effective product portfolio containing the latest technologies for all car segments, said Hasler.

The acquisition of Colauto will enable Sika to leverage the penetration of this growth market with its broad range of products and technologies. The automotive industry is increasingly focusing on Brazil as a development base for global platforms designed for the emerging markets.

With its production site in São Paulo, Colauto will become the new development center for Sika Automotive in Latin America, added Hasler.

Sika is a global company with more than 120 production and marketing subsidiaries in 74 countries. The firm is a globally integrated company supplying specialty chemicals and application knowledge.

Sika is a leader in processing materials used in sealing, bonding, damping, reinforcing and protecting load-bearing structures.  Sika’s product range features high-quality concrete admixtures, specialty mortars, sealants and adhesives, damping and reinforcing materials, structural strengthening systems, industrial flooring as well as roofing and waterproofing systems.  The company has approximately 13,482 employees worldwide.

Imdex Managing Director, Bernie Ridgeway, said the acquisition would strengthen the Company’s position in Latin America in relation to the manufacture and sale of drilling fluids and chemicals.

The proposed acquisition is consistent with Imdex’s focused strategy to grow the Company’s core operations in key markets. The move also strengthens Imdex’s market position in Latin America – System Mud is the leading independent drilling fluids and chemicals supplier in Brazil.

The investment is complementary to Imdex’s Drilling Fluids and Chemicals Division and has significant potential to expand the business given its complementary nature to Imdex’s current operations.

The acquisition is expected to be immediately EPS accretive. System Mud is a bolt on acquisition consistent with Imdex’s focused strategy to grow the Company’s global presence in its core operations.

System Mud was established in 1999 and is based in Itajai, Santa Catarina, Brazil. System Mud manufactures its own products and has become the leading independent drilling fluids supplier to the minerals business in Brazil.

System Mud is focused on manufacturing and marketing drilling fluid systems primarily for the mining and exploration market in Brazil.

Imdex Managing Director, Mr Bernie Ridgeway said System Mud is a natural fit for Imdex given the strong alignment of the company’s products and markets. It’s a strong business that will enhance further expansion of Imdex’s Drilling Fluids and Chemicals Division, said Ridgeway.

In addition, System Mud’s Brazilian focus is complementary to Imdex’s existing geographic footprint. The business will sit well within its existing Latin America regional operation that has been growing strongly given the substantial growth of the minerals industry in that region, said Ridgeway.

The acquisition of System Mud further supports Imdex’s aim of becoming a significant drilling fluids and chemicals supplier to the mining and water well industries globally, said Ridgeway.

The proposed acquisition is expected to be effective from 1 August, 2011 and will be wholly funded from Imdex’s cash resources and banking facilities.

Imdex is a Perth based public company whose core business is the supply of drilling fluids and chemicals and down hole instrumentation in Australia and internationally to the oil & gas, mining, water well, horizontal directional drilling and civil industries.

The acquisition will strengthen Pall’s capabilities to support customers in the fast-growing Latin American market. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the month. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Headquartered in the state of Sao Paulo, Engefiltro’s customers represent a broad spectrum of the national economy, including the mining, oil and gas, chemical and petrochemical, power generation, food processing, and pharmaceutical industries.

Engefiltro also has sophisticated filtration systems engineering capabilities. This expertise increases Pall’s regional capabilities in the design, construction and servicing of sophisticated fluid management systems for customers in the life sciences and industrial markets throughout Latin America.

Eric Krasnoff, CEO and president, commented that Brazil is already the world’s seventh largest economy and among the fastest growing. Its current size, market diversity and growth plans demand a local Pall presence, said Krasnoff.

Pall Corp. is delighted to welcome Engefiltro’s employees to the Pall family and will do everything it can to further enhance their ability to serve customers and grow the business, said Krasnoff.

Felix Diaz, president, Pall Latin America, said, the Engefiltro organization has been very successful positioning Pall technologies, products and services into the Brazilian market for more than 20 years.

Engefiltro’s sales organization is world-class and their operations and capabilities are highly complementary to Pall’s. The combination of the company’s organizations increases its opportunities to deliver even greater value to customers, said Diaz.

Pall Corporation is a filtration, separation and purification leader providing solutions to meet the critical fluid management needs of customers across the broad spectrum of life sciences and industry.

Pall works with customers to advance health, safety and environmentally responsible technologies. The Company’s engineered products enable process and product innovation and minimize emissions and waste.
Pall Corporation, with total revenues of $2.4 billion for fiscal 2010, is an S&P 500 company with more than 10,000 employees serving customers worldwide.

According to Pall, the global filtration market is being driven by water and energy needs, imperatives for quality and productivity, emerging and mutating pathogens, new biotech drugs and vaccines, high-tech products and processes, increasing regulations, and rising standards of living.

MAPPEL, established in 1970 by Marion Appel has 230 employees on two production sites based in San Paolo. The company posted a turnover of 25 million euros in 2010, with strong continued growth.

ILEOS, managed by Philippe Gelblat employs 4000 people in 14 locations in Europe, the United States and China; and in 2010 recorded a turnover of 275 million euros. This external growth reinforces the leadership of ILEOS in the manufacture of unitdoses and samples for the cosmetics industry through BIOPLAN, managed by Ludovic Anceau.

After the integration of MAPPEL, ILEOS will achieve a turnover of 300 million euros, thus confirming its position as global leader in packaging for the Beauty and the Healthcareindustries, and allowing it to expand its international influence in a geographical area with huge potential.

This acquisition fits perfectly with the strategy implemented for several years now by Ileos’ Direction, which aims to support its key customers in the field of beauty and healthcare whilst strengthening its position in high growth areas.

Philippe Gelblat, President of ILEOS reiterated the company’s delight to bring this great company, MAPPEL, into the ILEOS family; noting that the move offers ILEOS the opportunity to develop its know-how and serve its customers in Brazil which has such great potential. Marion Appel will continue to lead the company.

Marion Appel, President of MAPPEL separately reiterated the company’s delight to have the partnership with such a strong and renowned Group, noting that it brings an international perspective to MAPPEL that complements its existing position in Brazil and gives significant potential for Innovation and Industrial synergies.

ILEOS, subsidiary of 21 CP, is a major player in Beauty and Healthcare packaging, employing 4,000 people in Europe, the USA and China. With its Beauty Division, grouping AXILONE and BIOPLAN and its Graphic Division, including PACKETIS and ALLIORA, ILEOS achieved a turnover of 275 million euros in 2010. The partnership greatly enhances the ILEOS position in Brazil and the Latin American expanse.

The stake is in BSBIOS Industria e Comercio de Biodiesel Sul Brasil S.A., which produces 160 million liters of biodiesel per year from vegetable oils, said the Journal.

According to the Journal, the federal oil company has been ramping up partnerships and acquisitions in the biofuels sector with an aim of more than doubling output by 2014. Biodiesel is of particular interest because Brazil’s massive agriculture and transportation sectors consume hefty amounts of diesel fuel every year.

Petrobras plans to spend $3.5 billion through 2014 to boost biofuels output. Biodiesel production is expected to climb to 750,000 cubic meters (980,963 cubic yards) in 2014, up from 500,000 cubic meters at the end of last year. Ethanol production, meanwhile, is targeted for 2.6 million cubic meters by 2014, up from output of one million cubic meters in 2010, the report indicated.

According to a company statement, the acquisition consolidates Petrobras’ leadership in the biofuels sector.

Petrobras is driven by the challenge of supplying the energy that can propel development and ensure the future of the society with competency, ethics, cordiality, and respect for diversity.

The company is a publicly traded corporation, the majority stockholder of which is the Government of Brazil, and it performs as an energy company in the following sectors: exploration and production, refining, oil and natural gas trade and transportation, petrochemicals, and derivatives, electric energy, biofuel and other renewable energy source distribution.

A leader in the Brazilian oil industry, Petrobras has expanded its operations aiming to be among the top five integrated energy companies in the world by 2020. The company has a presence in 28 countries. The 2010-2014 business plan foresees investments in the order of $174.4 billion.

PETROBRAS is world-renowned company for its ultra-deep water oil exploration technology.

Transpetro, Petrobras Transporte S.A., undertakes oil and derivatives, ethanol, biofuels, and natural gas transportation and storage activities. It is in charge of more than 11,000 kilometers of pipelines – among oil pipelines and gas pipelines – which interconnect all Brazilian regions and supply the country’s most remote points.

Petrobras Distribuidora operates in the distribution, trade and industrialization of oil products and derivatives, in addition to in imports and exports. On the Brazilian streets and roads, the company has upwards of 7,000 service stations, the biggest service station network in Brazil amongst other units.