Myriant Signs Distribution Agreement with Major European Chemicals Distributor, BCD Chemie

Myriant Corporation, a global renewable chemicals company based in the United States, announced today that it has signed a distribution agreement with Hamburg, Germany-based BCD Chemie, one of the major European chemical distributors. BCD Chemie will market and distribute Myriant’s bio-succinic acid and Myrifilm® solvent in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

“BCD Chemie offers one of the most comprehensive chemical portfolios in Europe and, as such, its distribution network provides Myriant with access to forward-thinking chemical companies seeking to integrate bio-based chemicals into a wide range of applications,” said Alif Saleh, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Myriant. “We are confident that BCD Chemie can extend our sales and marketing reach, accelerate our market entrance in key European markets, and provide customers with quality support across all applications for both products.”

Globally, the annual worldwide market for succinic acid is estimated at approximately $7.5 billion in existing and new applications, in the field of polymers, urethanes, plasticizers and coatings. Myriant’s high purity bio-succinic acid is made from renewable feedstocks and is chemically equivalent to petroleum-based succinic acid while providing a lower environmental footprint. Myriant’s bio-succinic acid reduces harmful green house gas emissions by 94% compared to petroleum-derived succinic acid and by 96% compared to petroleum-derived adipic acid, a chemical that succinic acid can replace.

Myriant’s Myrifilm® solvent is a bio-based, broad spectrum, low odor and high-efficiency coalescing solvent with zero VOC (volatile organic compound). VOCs are toxic, liquid chemicals that evaporate at air temperature and have negative impacts to human health and the environment. Myrifilm’s zero VOC formulation meets increasingly stringent environmental compliance regulations globally and its high performance can contribute to lower costs in some formulations.

“BCD Chemie prides itself on its comprehensive approach to chemicals distribution services including being among the first to offer our customers bio-based chemicals for utilization in their formulations and applications,” said Johannes Weiner, Head of Corporate Development with BCD Chemie. “We see tremendous growth potential in Europe for Myriant’s bio-succinic acid and Myrifilm® solvent across a wide range of applications. Preliminary customer feedback and rigorous testing confirm the quality and performance of Myriant’s products and we’re looking forward to partnering with Myriant to bring its products to our target markets.”

About BCD Chemie GmbH
BCD Chemie GmbH, Hamburg, Germany is one of the leading chemical distributors in Germany, Austria and Switzerland with strong expansion into all of Europe. Linking chemical manufacturers and chemical users, BCD Chemie provides business-to-business distribution solutions for industrial and specialty chemicals. With over 4,000 products and a world-class supplier base, BCD Chemie offers one-stop-shop solutions to more than 10,000 customers. The value-added services include just-in-time delivery, product mixing, formulation, repackaging, inventory management, drum return handling as well as extensive technical support.

About Myriant Corporation
Myriant utilizes its proprietary technology platform to develop innovative, performance-based, renewable chemicals utilizing low-cost sugars. In December 2010, Myriant broke ground on its flagship 30 million pound commercial bio-succinic acid facility in Lake Providence, Louisiana and anticipates beginning commercial production in early 2013. The company’s D(-) lactic acid started production at commercial scale in June 2008 for use in polylactic acid. Myriant has agreements with ThyssenKrupp Uhde GmbH for engineering, Davy Process Technology for the integration of Myriant’s bio-succinic acid process with the Davy butanediol process for the production of bio-based butanediol, and PTT Chemical for the commercialization of Myriant’s technology in Southeast Asia. Myriant is headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts.

Contact
Sue Hager SVP, Corporate Communications and Government Affairs
Myriant Corporation
phone: 617-657-5222
email: shager@myriant.com