WCA January 2010

news

Investing in new facilities AEI Compounds facility in Kent, UK m m

Cable maker Prysmian has called off talks to take over the Dutch company Draka Holding NV. In separate statements on 10 th September 2009, Prysmian and Draka said they could not reach agreement on the main terms and conditions. The proposed takeover, first announ- ced in late June 2009, could have created a market leader worth over €3 billion. When talks were first announced, Prysmian was worth about €1.77 billion, and Draka about €325 million, according to data from Reuters. By 10 th September, Prysmian’s worth was estimated at around €2.5 billion and Draka at €548 million. The deal talks were unusual in the current climate of tight credit and global recession, but analysts recognised the possibility of cost savings from the takeover. Prysmian – Italy Website : www.prysmian.com Draka Holding – The Netherlands Website : www.draka.com Takeover talks called off

increasing from low-cost developing economies we need to stay ahead by investing in the very best equipment and personnel. “Despite the current challenging market conditions the business has continued to perform well, with a strong operating profit performance in the last financial year backed by revenue growth of 27 per cent and volume growth of 21 per cent.” The new facility in Sandwich will allow the business to develop all of its current activities and will house the company’s comprehensive R&D and technical centre. The project is scheduled to be complete by the end of February 2010. AEI Compounds Ltd – UK Email : sales@aeicompounds.co.uk Website : www.aeicompounds.com

AEI Compounds Ltd, a subsidiary of TT electronics plc and a specialist producer of cross-linkable and thermo- plastic polymer compounds, is to move its operations from its current base in Gravesend to Sandwich, Kent. The company will also be installing new production capacity for its range of environmentally friendly, low smoke, halogen free (LSFOH) cable compounds. The new line will be capable of producing up to 1,500kg per hour. Mark Shaw, managing director of AEI Compounds, commented: “This investment in our business and technical capability is critical to our strategy of continuing to lead in the supply and development of high performance flame retardant solutions to the polymer industry. “Our customers are based in all regions of the world and with competition

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Wire & Cable ASIA – January/February 2010