ITALMATCH CHEMICALS Group acquires the RecoPhos Project Technology from Israel Chemicals (ICL)

GENOA, Italy, Jan. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Italmatch Chemicals, a leading global specialty chemical group focused on the production and marketing of performance additives for water & process treatment, oil & gas, industrial lubricants and plastics, announces that has acquired from Israel Chemicals (ICL) the RecoPhos Project Technology, including all licenses, IP, know-how and assets related to it. The aim is to further develop and complete a sustainable, highly efficient and economical viable process to recover phosphorus from all P containing waste streams (sewage sludge's ashes is one of them) to produce P4, to which the Recophos technology is expected to further add.

Italmatch Chemicals's historical and current portfolio is strongly related to Phosphorus (P4) as strategic raw material. Italmatch Chemicals therefore decided to acquire the Recophos Project Technology, which was initiated by ICL and other partners.

Once the Recophos Project Technology (literally Recovery of Phosphorus) will be completed, Italmatch Chemicals will open a new route to produce Elemental Phosphorus with the purest quality, out of secondary "waste" raw materials, contributing to reduce the consumption of Natural Phosphate Ore, declared as critical and strategic raw material by the EU due to its limited availability in the long term future. Phosphorus (P4) is a key raw material for different industrial applications fields like Flame Retardants, Oil Additives, Crop Protectors, Pharmaceuticals, Electronics, etc. The RecoPhos Project Technology aims at using recovered P contained in ashes, out of waste streams, replacing mined phosphate rock, and fully complying with the principles of the Circular Economy.

Sergio Iorio, CEO of Italmatch Chemicals Group, stated: "For Italmatch Chemicals, Innovation and Sustainability represent the key element factor for the company's long-term success. Our roots, our history, our culture and guidelines, drive us to continue investing in research and development and innovative "break-through technologies" for the realization of projects that can contribute to spread and promote sustainable and circular business practices. Indeed this transaction, completely based on the concept of "circularity" of resources rather than exploitation of new ones, follows the recent acquisition of Eco Inhibitors that has allowed Italmatch to present to the market a new class of innovative "anti agglomerant" products for off shore drilling, with high environmental compatibility, utilizing natural organic waste as raw materials, and replacing oil-based alternative products: another perfect example of circular economy."

Maurizio Turci, General Manager Corporate & Group CFO, stated: "This transaction perfectly complies with the Group development strategy focused on organic growth, research and Innovation projects and new "break-through" technologies. As a specific example we have recently launched Beyond Innovation, an encouraging internal plan based on sharing and enhancing sustainable Project ideas, to increase and support the long-term Group future profitability and address innovation towards circular economy."

Carlos Galeano, Beyond Innovation Project Director, stated: "This acquisition not only introduces a new way to treat waste streams containing Phosphorus (P), but also transforms the way the industry will treat P containing ashes in the future.  With Recophos, Italmatch Chemicals aims to both offer a P4 with a considerably higher quality to the market and consolidate its global leadership in the high-tech industry."

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This announcement contains statements reflecting assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions or beliefs about future events that are intended as "forward-looking statements". A number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from current projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations relating to us. Any or all of these forward- looking statements may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

www.italmatch.com

SOURCE Italmatch Chemicals

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