METabolic EXplorer presents its new development project and unveils its new ambitions
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Become the leader of the butyric acid (AB) natural in animal nutrition
Become the producer of reference for the 1,3-propanediol (PDO), non-GMO used in cosmetics
The achievement of its ambitions will go through the construction of a plant for the production of PDO/AB.
Clermont-Ferrand, on may 12, 2017 (FR0000032526 GBT), METabolic EXplorer (METEX), society of biochemistry and industrial develops and markets industrial processes of fermentation, announces its strategic priorities.
Benjamin Gonzalez, Chairman and ceo of METEX said : “With the sale of inolaTM, we have demonstrated the quality and the industrial maturity of our solutions, and we now have the financial means for us to redeploy. Our technology provides us with new fields of applications with the butyric acid in animal nutrition and the PDO for the markets of cosmetics, textile and polymers. The next step will be to build the first tranche of 6 kt of a production unit to develop these markets. ”
A technological process that changes the situation : producing consumer goods (food for animals, cosmetics, textiles, plastics, etc….) petroleum-free, pollution-free, with performances similar or superior and being more competitive
The technology METEX is a disruptive solution that allows one process to obtain two separate products (butyric acid and PDO), to address a number of markets of which the principal ones are the animal nutrition with the butyric acid and the cosmetic market and of the biobased polymers with the PDO.
The production of these two products will help to address both :
The global market for organic acids in animal nutrition, estimated at more than 1 billion.
On this market, the butyric acid has in particular a very high growth rate (x 2.5 since 2010). This increase is due to its nutritional value, metabolic and antimicrobial, promotes the growth of the animals and their health. It should be accelerated by regulatory changes banning the use of antibiotics as growth factor in both Europe and the States-Unis1.
The market of preservatives in cosmetics, a market that accounted for 400 M in 2016.
The PDO METEX is an ingredient that can substitute for the conservatives controversial such as parabens, formaldehyde and halogenated. METEX holds a decisive advantage to conquer the market with its PDO, non-GMO, which allows large brands of cosmetics offer their customers natural alternatives and non-GMO, petrochemicals.
Finally, the production of PDO will enable METEX access to the global market for biobased polymers by starting with the market for textile fibers and more particularly the one of the PTT promised a strong development because of its superior properties to the PET. METEX will thus offer a natural alternative and owner face-to-the unique producer current.
Ready for a new stage : industrialization in its own products
In order to retain all of the value associated with its technology, METEX has the ambition to build a production unit with a capacity of 24 kt in two tranches : a first tranche of 6 kt (5 kt of PDO and 1 kt of butyric acid) and a second tranche of 18 kt (15 kt of PDO and 3 kt of butyric acid).
The construction of this production unit will go through the conclusion of an agreement with an industrialist of the first order. Discussions are ongoing with two industrial companies in Europe to accommodate the production unit at industrial sites, conversion. The key elements of the discussion focuses on :
The support by the industrial investment costs required on the platform to welcome the investment METEX, the amount of the investment made by METEX for tranche 1 are estimated at 25 M approximately ;
The amount of the participation of financial partners and stakeholders (banks, industrial companies, public authorities) ;
The regulatory part on the obtaining of permissions required for the project.
The laying of the first stone should intervene after the end of the first half
2018 (+/- 3 months). Previously, the company has selected the main contractor and the project management support as well as its financial partners.
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[1] there is A strong demand supported by a regulatory developments prohibiting the use of antibiotics as factors or growth promoters in Europe, as in the United States. Dir. 95/53 EC in 2006 and FDA in January 2017
This production unit will allow us to METEX to directly market the butyric acid in animal nutrition and the PDO via distribution agreements. The launch of the marketing is planned 24 months after the beginning of the construction of the production unit.
Finally, on the market of textile fibers and polymers, the company is considering a model of co-license agreement with Technip and is pursuing its plans to offer common.
The company aims to term 20% of the market of the AB natural animal nutrition, 50% of the market of the PDO in the cosmetic and 40% of the market of the PDO textile in the PTT.
At the same time, METEX is continuing its initiatives in the field of R&D. The first axis of his research focuses on the diversification of raw materials of its new process lighthouse. The second aims to develop and bring to maturity the manufacturing process MPG in the framework of the european project ValChem in collaboration with the Finnish company UPM, the University of Darmstadt and SEKAB. The third axis focuses on expanding its portfolio of products, still confidential.
Financial Information of 1st quarter 2017
In the 1st quarter of 2017, METabolic EXplorer has a turnover of 1.1 Million. This amount corresponds, on the one hand, to the income contract income on the period in the framework of the development agreement signed with the Finnish group UPM – agreement to develop a process for the production of MPG from sugars cellulose so-called second generation – and on the other hand, the amount collected in the framework of the service contract signed with Evonik in the transfer of technology L-Methionine/inoLa.
To march 31, 2017, the company has a gross cash position, IFRS, 39.4 M (against
41,8 M on December 31, 2016) and a cash position net of debt of € 32.5 Million (35 M December 31, 2016).
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About METabolic EXplorer www.metabolic-explorer.com
A pioneer in biochemistry industrial, with nearly 20 years of experience, METabolic EXplorer (METEX) is developing alternatives to industrial petrochemical processes.
From raw materials renewable and sustainable, the company is developing fermentation processes industrial innovative to produce chemical compounds on the basis of essential items of daily life such as additives for the nutrition and health of animals, plastics, textiles, cosmetics, resins,…
For its biotechnological innovations, the company has the ambition to contribute to produce otherwise, without oil, to consumer products to meet the environmental challenges and new societal expectations of consumers.
The innovation is based on 70 people of complementary skills to master all stages of the development process : the optimization of a strain in laboratories for the production of samples at pilot-scale.
METabolic EXplorer, based on the Biopôle Clermont Limagne, on the outskirts of Clermont-Ferrand, is listed on the Euronext in Paris (Compartment C, METEX) and is part of the CAC Small.
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