Capacity addition

Acquisition

Bayer Schering Pharma AG has acquired a biologics manufacturing facility in Emeryville, California from Novartis.  Bayer Schering Pharma is the pharmaceuticals business of Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG.  The company plans to manufacture its multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Betaseron at the site.  Novartis has transferred the manufacturing responsibility of the drug to Bayer Schering Pharma and has received a one-time payment of approximately $200 million for the transfer of production equipment, inventory and the leasing of the buildings at the site.

Acquisitions

Dow Epoxy has signed definitive agreements to acquire UPPC AG in Germany as well as POLY-CARB and GNS Technologies in the United States.  Dow expects to complete each acquisition within 30 to 45 days.

Sale

PPG Industries Inc. has agreed to sell its automotive equipment and replacement glass and service businesses to Platinum Energy for about $500 million.  The sale will allow PPG to focus on coatings and specialty products and reduce its exposure to the U.S. automotive market.  The impacted employees, more than 4,000, work at plants and centers in Pennsylvania (Creighton, Tipton and Meadville); Berea, Kentucky; Crestline, Ohio; Evansville, Indiana; Evart, Michigan; Fort Myers, Florida; Paducah, Kentucky; and Ontario (Hawkesbury and Oshawa).

Monsanto Co. will sell the assets of its Asian subsidiaries to Devgen for about $26 million.  Monsanto will buy an interest in Devgen.  Through the agreement, Devgen will acquire Monsanto’s rice, sunflower, sorghum and pearl millet businesses located in India, Pakistan and the Philippines.