Malaysia: Reliance of India Acquires BPCM Business

BP has announced that it has agreed to sell all its interests in purified terephthalic acid (PTA) production in Malaysia to Reliance Global Holdings (Reliance). The agreement concerns BP’s 100% equity in BP Chemicals (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (BPCM), located at Kuantan on the east coast of Malaysia.

Reliance has agreed to purchase BP’s interest in BPCM for $230 million in cash and both parties anticipate completing the transaction in 2012.

James Yim, head of BP's aromatics business in Asia, said that the transaction made sence for Reliance. “This is an efficient plant with a good market position in the region. RECRON Malaysia, part of the Reliance Group, is already our largest customer in Malaysia and Reliance Industries is a significant feedstock supplier at Kuantan, so Reliance is a natural owner of this plant.”

Nick Elmslie, chief executive of BP Petrochemicals shed light on the company's strategy after the sale. “BP has a major, global PTA business, with around one fifth of global PTA production capacity and a track record of leading technology. We will continue to concentrate our PTA strategy on deploying new technologies into high growth markets like China where we are in the middle of a considerable expansion programme, and in OECD markets where our technology gives us an advantage and high utilization rates. “We are also building new revenue streams by licensing our PTA and paraxylene technologies.”

All current staff of BPCM are expected to transfer to the new owners under equivalent terms and conditions. BP’s acetic acid manufacturing and marketing business in Malaysia is unaffected by this sale.

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