TOKYO, July 30, 2015 - (ACN Newswire) - Showa Denko (SDK) (TOKYO:4004) announces that it has decided to dissolve its consolidated subsidiary Baotou Showa Rare Earth High-Tech New Material Co., Ltd. (BSR), located in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China.
1. Reasons for dissolution
The Showa Denko Group has two bases in China to produce rare earth magnetic alloy, namely, BSR and Ganzhou Zhaori Rare Earth New Materials Co., Ltd. (GSR), in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province. Till now, BSR has been procuring rare earth materials from mines in China, producing magnetic alloy and selling that to Japanese and Chinese markets since its establishment. However, since 2012, when the Chinese government terminated export duty exemption for rare earth magnetic alloy, BSR's sales to customers in Japan have been significantly reduced. Thus, BSR's business environment is much harsher than before.
Under these circumstances, SDK and its partners have concluded, after mutual consultation, that it is difficult to continue BSR's operations. Thus, SDK and its partners have agreed to dissolve BSR. SDK will concentrate its production and sales of rare earth magnetic alloy in China into GSR.
2. Outline of BSR
Name: Baotou Showa Rare Earth High-Tech New Material Co., Ltd.Head office: No.1 Shuguang Road, Baotou Rare-Earth High & New Tech. Industrial Development Zone, Inner Mongolia, ChinaEstablishment: October 2002Capital stock: 1,000 million yenOwnership: - Showa Denko K.K. 60%- China Northern Rare Earth Group High-Tech Co. Ltd. 30%- Tokai Trade Co., Ltd. 10%Representative President: Nobuhiko KawamuraScope of business: Production and sales of rare earth magnetic alloyProduction capacity: 1,000t/y
3. Financial impact of dissolution
The loss deriving from this dissolution will have only slight influence on SDK's business results.
4. Future prospect
After making applications for dissolution to the relevant government authorities, SDK and its partners will dissolve and liquidate BSR without delay. SDK will aim to accelerate development of new-generation rare earth magnetic alloy, and strengthen its sales activities in China.
About Showa Denko
Showa Denko K.K. ('SDK'; TSE: 4004, US: SHWDF) is a major manufacturer and marketer of chemical products serving a wide range of fields ranging from heavy industry to the electronic and computer industries. SDK makes petrochemicals (ethylene, propylene), aluminum products (ingots, rods), electronic equipment (hard disks for computers) and inorganic materials (ceramics, carbons). The company has overseas operations and a joint venture with Netherlands-based Montell and Nippon Petrochemicals to make and market polypropylenes. In March 2001, SDK merged with Showa Denko Aluminum Corporation to strengthen the high-value-added fabricated aluminum products operations, and is today developing next-generation optical communications-use wafers. For more information, please visit www.sdk.co.jp/english/.
Source: Showa Denko
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