Chase Corporation Acquires Tapecoat - Chemical Outlook - Independent industry news, analysis and business information for chemicals makers and users

BRIDGEWATER, Mass.--Nov. 2, 2001--Chase Corporation today announced that it has concluded the purchase of certain assets of Tapecoat, a Division of TC Manufacturing Co., Inc. of Evanston, Illinois. Tapecoat is a provider of protective coatings for the transportation, marine and geo-synthetics industries and for underground oil, gas and water pipelines. Tapecoat is expected to report sales of about $9 million for 2001. The company recently celebrated its 60th anniversary.

The Tapecoat acquisition will complement Chase's Royston division. Royston is a leading manufacturer of waterproofing membranes for the highway, bridge and architectural markets. Royston also produces asphalt additives, corrosion preventing mastics, tapes and accessory products. Tapecoat and Royston will maintain existing plants and facilities in Evanston, IL and Pittsburgh, PA.

In making the announcement, Peter R. Chase, President and CEO of Chase Corporation said, ``The deal makes good sense for us at this point in time. Tapecoat presents an opportunity to strengthen an important core business and add to our specialty chemical area.'' Chase added, ``We know this industry well, and Tapecoat will provide a presence in market segments that offer new opportunities. The combination of Tapecoat and Royston will also mean greater operational and marketing efficiencies that will enhance our competitive position and reputation as an industry leader.''

Chase Corporation is a diversified, advanced manufacturing company providing a wide variety of high quality products and services to multiple industries. Since the founding of the Company in 1946, Chase has grown to become a successful, carefully managed, multi-divisional company with a global customer base.

KINGSPORT, Tenn.--Oct. 25, 2001---Eastman Chemical Company today announced third-quarter 2001 earnings of $0.55 per diluted share excluding certain nonrecurring items versus $1.05 per diluted share excluding certain nonrecurring items for the same period in 2000. Including certain nonrecurring items, third-quarter 2001 earnings were $0.31 per diluted share.

RADNOR, Pa.--Oct. 25, 2001--Airgas, Inc., today reported results for its second quarter ended September 30, 2001. Net earnings for the quarter were $14.6 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to $13.9 million, or $0.21 per diluted share in the same period a year ago, on a pro forma basis.

ZURICH (October 25, 2001) – Omnexus (omnexus.com), an e-marketplace serving the plastics industry, has launched a German plastics industry news service for users of the Omnexus German Web site. Omnexus is providing its German news through German news organization and plastics journal K-Zeitung.

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 26 -- Calgon Carbon Corporation announced today that it will hold a webcast on Wednesday, October 31 at 11:30 A.M., Eastern Time. Jim Cederna, Calgon Carbon's chairman, president and chief executive officer and Bill Cann, its chief financial officer, will review third quarter earnings.

BANGALORE, India (October 18, 2001) – Eastman Chemical Company has selected a series of Web based technical solution wizards from Wipro Technologies, a provider of IT services and solutions. The wizards are designed to aid Eastman's customers with product selection, product design and other technical support.

JACKSON, Miss.--Oct. 30, 2001--ChemFirst Inc. announces it has acquired the 12.5% minority interest of its TriQuest LP subsidiary formerly held by TriQuest employees. TriQuest is a major supplier and only North American producer of electronic grade resins used in production of 248 nanometer Deep Ultra Violet (DUV) photoresists for semiconductor chip manufacturing. DUV photoresists enable production of today's most advanced chips used in microprocessors, digital signal processors, and other devices for communications and connectivity applications.

KINGSPORT, Tenn. and YPSILANTI, Mich., Oct. 29 -- Furthering its commitment to the advancement of higher education, Eastman Chemical Company today announced its donation of intellectual property covering thermosetting coating compositions to Eastern Michigan University's (EMU) Coating Research Institute. EMU will further develop the technology for commercial application. The patents included in the donation were valued using the Patent & License Exchange, Inc.'s (pl-x) highly acclaimed TRRU® metrics valuation tools. The estimated value of the technology was not disclosed.

CALABASAS, Calif.--Oct. 29, 2001--CoolCan Technologies Inc. (the "Company") announced today that it has entered into a funding agreement with Bay Financial S.A. ("Bay Financial"), a shareholder of the Company. Under the terms of the funding agreement, Bay Financial will have the right to provide up to $1,000,000 US of funding on a private placement basis in tranches over the next 12-month period.

DALLAS (October 29, 2001) - Air Liquide America (airliquide.com) has released its on-site service management system, FabNet. The system is designed to provide customers and Air Liquide America’s Total Gas and Chemicals Management (TGCM) employees with one-station access to aggregated data from various sources to support their operational business needs.

HOUSTON--Oct. 29, 2001--Solvay Minerals Inc. announces the appointment of Carl Martin to the position of north american business manager for its marketing unit, Solvay Performance Chemicals Inc., effective Oct. 1, 2001, according to Richard L. Hogan, president. In this position, Mr. Martin is responsible for marketing products produced by Solvay Performance Chemicals' Barium/Strontium Strategic Business Unit.

BRAMPTON, Ontario--Oct. 30, 2001-- Third Quarter EBITDA from continuing operations up 38% from Q2 2001 -- AT Plastics benefiting from reduced feedstock costs and restructuring initiatives -- Successfully completed $35 million share issue -- On track to complete balance of restructuring plan: sell Packaging business and restructure debt.

My views might not be considered neutral, with OxyChem's equity participation in Envera, but "Hub-to-Hub" connectivity was always in Envera's plans. As a founding Envera member and as an early adopter of B2B connectivity utilizing XML (in production since November 1999) OxyChem strongly endorses the need for "Hub-to-Hub" connectivity, both inter- and intra-Industry. Consider the real flywheel effects of connecting two hubs within the Chemical sector. In addition here are four thoughts on why this would be a positive step: