Borealis and Novolen to enter into license agreement

27.10.2005

Borealis and Novolen announced today that they have entered into a license agreement allowing Novolen’s metallocene* single-site polypropylene (PP) technology rights to be available to Borealis. This agreement grants Borealis access to Novolen’s metallocene PP patent rights to manufacture single-site polymerization catalysts to produce Borealis metallocene PP solutions.

In addition, both parties have entered into joint development agreement to further develop metallocene single-site polymerization catalysts for use in bulk PP polymerization processes. Both companies are strongly committed to innovation and play a leading role in the plastics industry.

"This cooperation agreement proves our commitment to delivering added value to our customers by investing in innovation. The development of new metallocene catalysts will bring new tailored PP solutions to our customers. They will benefit from the excellent processability of our Borstar® proprietary multi-modal technology in combination with the product properties of single-site polymers,” said Wim Roels, Vice President Innovation & Technology, Borealis.

"The joint development alliance with Borealis - in combination with the licensing of Novolen’s metallocene single-site rights - marks the beginning of a new era of single-site PP commercialisation. Novolen has continuously been working to maintain a leading position in PP metallocene catalyst technology to globally offer attractive license packages to all PP producers who have an interest in upgrading their product slate,” said Dr. Godofredo Follmer, Vice President Novolen Technology Division, ABB Lummus Global.

Borealis has been successful in researching and developing catalysts and process technology for PP polymerisation. Its catalyst research is focused on ensuring the commercial success of Borealis Borstar technology for the development of sophisticated on-demand customer solutions.

Novolen has developed a new generation of high performance metallocene catalysts for the production of a comprehensive range of homopolymer and copolymer products available for immediate license.

Borstar is a registered trademark of Borealis A/S.

* Metallocene complexes are the active components in polymerization catalysts.

For further information please contact:

Liesbeth Denys
Trade Media Relations Manager, Borealis
+32 15 47 90 24
lypresbo@borealisgroup.com

Andrea Thiesies
+49 6203 71 2073,
Andrea.thiesies@de.abb.com

Borealis is a leading, innovative provider of plastics solutions with more than 40 years of experience in polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Borealis products are converted by its customers into daily life products such as food packaging, medical devices, diapers, distribution pipes, automotive parts and power cables.

Novolen Technology Holdings C.V. (Novolen), a joint venture of ABB and Equistar (of which ABB’s interest is more than 80 percent), is a leading polypropylene technology provider conducting extensive research and development in the United States and Europe. Novolen’s proprietary Novolen® technology gas-phase process has been licensed worldwide for more than 30 years.

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