Proactive Investors: Alan, for those who aren’t familiar with TyraTech tell us about the company and its technology.

Alan Reade: Thanks, yes. You might see us described as a pesticides group, but we are more than that. 

We are a natural life sciences company with a patented technology at its core. This technology is more than simply an alternative to traditional synthetic chemical products used to control pests.  

First of all it’s proven it can produce products which are not only completely safe to the user but also produce superior results against conventional treatments in the control of insects.  

Our products have the ability to change the way people view the use of pesticides in their home. In personal care we identified that this is a tired old category with solutions that are suboptimal because they no longer address the needs of the consumer.

For example, consumers are looking for a way to control head lice which is effective, easy and safe to use on their children. This is an area we believe we have successfully addressed.  

PI:  We’ve seen a growing number of news stories about the increasing insect resistance to traditional pesticides. Tell me how your technology addresses this growing global issue.

AR: Over the past two or three decades, resistance to pesticides has become a bigger issue, starting with agriculture then moving onto mosquitos and then coming closer to home with insect parasites such as head lice that have a major impact on the health and well-being of millions of children each year. 

Our testing consistently shows that our technology and products are highly effective against insects and parasites that have already developed high levels of resistance to traditional pesticides.

For example, our field trials have identified a significant issue in Florida that our products have worked where traditional synthetic solutions failed.    

PI: You have carved out a number of potentially significant markets. What are they, and just how big could each be?

AR:  Let’s see, household and institutional insect control is a high value market all on its own worth in excess of $3 billion globally. Our products have a unique position in this market giving consumers highly effective and safe insect control solutions that be used with confidence in sensitive areas such as homes, kitchens, hospitals, schools, hotels, public buildings and institutions.

Our market research shows that there is a growing demand for solutions that can be both safe and effective.So you see the huge potential there. 

Personal care is another high value market worth more than $2 billion globally. The first product that we’ve developed in this area addresses the $600 million global head lice market, and will be marketed under to the TyraTech brand-name, VaMousse! 

This will be the first product in a range of innovative hair care products that will provide best in class head lice control.  These products will deliver the highest levels of efficacy and personal safety while also controlling pyrethroid resistant head lice. 

VaMousse!, which is presently in clinical trials, has shown excellent results indicating that we have developed a product which will provide superior control of head lice and nits with the highest level of personal safety. This is indeed a major breakthrough and one which will please many parents. 

Another key area of development in the personal care market is in personal insect repellents.  We’re addressing this $1+ billion global market with a range of personal insect repellents which will give superior results compared to the market standard DEET, with no concerns associated with personal safety.

In animal health, we concentrate on the external parasite sector, which is a $4+ billion global market. We are developing a range of products, including those that will control and repel fleas and ticks on household pets as well as products for fly control on horses and cattle.  

There is tremendous development synergy between these three sectors.  For example, we leverage our development in both personal care and insect control into animal health and vice versa. 

Human health and well-being is focused on developing products which control intestinal parasites in humans.  The products will be delivered as functional foods and are being developed in partnership with Kraft Foods.  Our development work in this area is just about complete and we continue to work with Kraft to commercialise the opportunity.

PI: This hasn’t all happened overnight. It has taken time and significant investment.  

AR: In excess of US$50 million has been invested in the technology platform.  The efficiency of our product development over the past couple of years has been extremely impressive.  Our teams have developed very high value product opportunities in markets which are both stable and lucrative.  This is all the more impressive when you consider that during this period we have reduced our cost base by 40 per cent.  Certainly one of the main contributors to this the efficiency gained from moving all of our operations onto one site in North Carolina.

PI: So Alan, you are making progress operationally, but what about the future?

AR:  We have a strong product portfolio; we’ve created the opportunity, now the focus is to identify the strategic and financial partners to ensure the opportunities are realised in a way that will benefit our shareholders and employees.  This will probably entail looking creatively at our structure to create the environment which will attract both financial and trade partners.  This is the main focus of the board at this time.

If we can be successful in achieving this, coupled with a strong product and patent portfolio, we can be confident that this will provide significant future revenue and earning streams for both the company and its shareholders. 

At the same time, we are seeking deals and partnerships in new geographic territories such as Europe, Australia and Asia. We can’t say too much, but as you’d expect there are talks with major pharmacy groups in North America, which will be the first priority for the head lice product. 

PI: And the share price Alan?

AR: The share price has reflected the uncertainty over the situation with Terminix. The market currently values TyraTech shares at just 6 pence each, some 80 per cent lower than the 35 pence mark it traded at just a year ago. This certainly does not reflect the underlying value created by the investment in the technology platform and the creation of a potentially high value product portfolio.  We are focused on finding the most effective ways of communicating the opportunities we have created to potential partners and shareholders. 

The Calgary, Alberta-based company sells everything from crop nutrients to potash, herbicide and also fungicide to the agricultural industry.

In the January-March period, net earnings slumped to $155 million, or 97 cents per share, versus $171 million, or $1.09 per share, a year ago.

Removing a pre-tax loss on natural gas and other hedge positions and a share-based payment expense, the company would have earned $210 million, or $1.32 per share.

The company said sales rose 23 percent to $3.63 billion, on higher volumes across its product lines.

Agrium saw an $88-million increase in year-over-year expenses during the latest period, due to an unfavourable change in share-based payments and higher retail selling expenses, it said.

The company’s retail segment saw sales jump 35 percent to $2.5 billion, on strong demand for crop input products and services within North America.

Crop nutrient sales jumped 46 percent to $1 billion from $707 million, thanks to higher sales volume and higher nitrogen prices.

Crop protection sales were $834-million in the first quarter, a 31 percent increase over the $638-million in sales for the same period last year.

Revenue from the wholesale division dropped slightly to $1.2 billion.

Gross margins eased to 22 percent from 24.5 percent a year earlier.

Agrium is among the largest North American retailer of agricultural inputs such as seeds, nutrients and crop protection chemicals.

Its stock closed Tuesday at $84.57 on the New York Stock Exchange, and was down more than one percent before the bell on Wednesday.

The Cincinnati, Ohio-based company makes everything from Tide laundry detergent to Charmin toilet paper, Duracell batteries and Gillette razors.

Earnings fell to $2.41 billion, or 82 cents per share, for the period that ended March 31. That compared to $2.87 billion, or 96 cents per share, in the same period last year. Analysts polled by Bloomberg had expected 93 cents a share.

Net sales rose two percent to $20.19 billion from 19.83 billion, but just missed analyst estimates for $20.40 billion.

Before the opening bell, the company’s shares slipped as much as 2.95 percent, descending to $64.90 per share in New York on Friday.

“We delivered broad-based organic sales growth, with all of our business segments growing, in a difficult macroeconomic and competitive environment," said chief executive Bob McDonald in a statement Friday.

For the January-March quarter, organic sales grew by three percent driven by price increases, partly offset by geographic and product mix.

The beauty segment posted sales of $4.8 billion on the back of unit volume growth of one percent. Revenue from its grooming division was flat at $2 billion.

Its health care unit notched two percent to $3 billion in revenue, on unit volume that was in line with the prior year.

Oral care volume decreased by low single digits, reflecting competitive promotional activity which was partially offset by innovation and geographic expansion, the company said.

Revenue at its fabric care and home care unit rose one percent to $6.6 billion, while its baby care and family care division saw sales rise five percent to $4.2 billion.

Gross margin narrowed to 49.3 percent from 50.8 percent, reflecting higher commodity costs.

The maker of Bounty paper towels and Pampers diapers announced in February it expects to cut more than 5,700 non-manufacturing jobs and slash $10 billion in costs by fiscal 2016.

As part of this plan, the company anticipates to book about $3.5 billion before-tax in restructuring costs within a four-year period.

For fiscal 2012, the company said it now expects net income of $3.82 to $3.88 per share, excluding one-time costs, down from its prior guidance of $3.93 to $4.03 per share.

Analysts expect a profit of $4 per share.

For the fourth quarter, the company expects adjusted net income of 79 to 85 cents per share. It said earnings will continue to be hurt by higher commodity costs, though to a lesser degree than in recent quarters.

On average, analysts predict fourth quarter earnings of 93 cents a share.

The company, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, makes everything from natural and synthetic food and beverage colours to inkjet inks, specialty dyes and flavour enhancers.

Shares of Sensient traded higher at $38.30 each on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday morning, after reporting quarterly results.

Net profit climbed to $28.9 million, or 58 cents per share for the latest period that ended March 31. This compared to the $26.4 million, or 53 cents per share, recorded last year.

Sales went up by 4.6 percent to $365.6 million from $349.6 million a year earlier.

On average, analysts polled by Bloomberg were forecasting earnings of 57 cents, on sales of $366.0 million.

"The company continues to perform very well,” chief executive Kenneth Manning said in a statement Friday.

"We achieved solid revenue and operating profit growth during the first quarter and we expect to sustain this level of growth, in local currency terms, for the rest of the year. We continue to see opportunities for growth, and I remain very optimistic about the company’s future."

The colour group segment, which offers natural and synthetic colour systems for use in foods and pharmaceuticals, saw sales grow 4.5 percent to $131.2 million. The unit’s margins improved to 19.4 percent.

Revenue from the flavours and fragrances group rose 4.3 percent to $214.7 million from $205 million seen last year.

The so called "corporate and other" segment, which includes the company’s operations in Asia-Pacific as well as the flavour business in Central and South America, saw revenue go up by 7.5 percent to $37.1 million from $34.6 million a year earlier.

Sensient revised its guidance for 2012 per share earnings, which are now expected to be in the range of $2.50 to $2.59. That is up from its prior outlook of $2.48 to $2.58.

Analysts expect to see a profit of $2.53 per share.

Investors are certainly expecting big things with the share price almost doubling since the start of 2012, but management are upbeat as well.

Chief executive Lance Baller in fact says they’re at their “most bullish ever” over prospects for the US-based firm.

This optimism follows last month’s acquisition of a new site for an iodine processing plant that will serve two customers, something that Baller describes as "unique".

By supplying two customers from the one site, it can slash its building costs and the expense to run the plant.

Baller adds that the acquisition is the first in a series of “mappable events” he expects to report this year.

Iofina’s main business is to extract iodine from the brine produced as waste from oil and gas wells and sell it.

One of the problems it previously faced was that customers did not want a rival’s brine waste being brought onto their sites in case of complications if there was a spillage.

By acquiring the site itself, Iofina has neatly side-stepped that problem.

The new plant will be located between the brine water disposal facilities of two New York- listed oil and gas majors

It currently has one company’s brine stream under contract with the other group expected to sign shortly.

The numbers for the new site look compelling. Baller says that one of its existing plants would on average produce 100 metric tons of iodine per year.

With a metric ton of iodine currently selling at $65,000, this would mean $6.5 million per year in revenues and about $250,000 profit per month, per location.

A new dual-brine stream site with lower operating expenses and higher volumes could nearly double those numbers – “double the volumes and double the profits”, said Baller.

It will also help cement its relationships with its blue chip customer base. 

The new site “allows us to be there essentially forever and moves us from being a guest to owning that site.”

For a company still only valued at £50 million, the potential returns will have significant implications for its value if all goes to plan 

And Baller is confident. He hopes the new dual stream plant will be online within the next twelve months. The group has a backlog of other developments also due to start-up.

“The idea is also to bring on sites we think have the highest payback on capital and will make the most money quickly.”

Each of these new plants will be a milestone event, he says.

The plan going forward is to persuade more oil and companies to do similar deals.

As its customers receive a royalty for something that otherwise would just be a 100 per cent cost to dispose of, he is confident that once the dual site is up and running more business will come Iofina’s way.

He says the nature of oil and gas companies is that if a rival or rivals are doing something successfully others will follow. 

“Now we have an example of doing a dual site, I hope this will bring success with other operators.”

Iodine production may not be a headline grabber, but it is a huge business and an increasingly important chemical across a range of industries.

X-rays and CT scanners all depend on iodine, but other big and growing uses are screens for computers and smartphones while it is a staple of the nylon industry.

These businesses also produce a lot of waste iodine and as well as acquiring the new dual-site, Iofina has also moved into recycling. 

Recycling, which is carried out its site at Kentucky, is an important step for the company, said Baller. 

It is another source of iodine at a low cost, is good for the environment but also completes the range of Iofina’s services.

“It completely vertically integrates us” he said and "makes Iofina one of only one of two companies that offers a one-stop shop of recycling, production and iodine derivatives.”

The price of Iodine on the open market is another key component of the business and it has come back from the highs seen last year, but Baller sees this changing later this year.

“The iodine supply situation is very tight right now and I expect in the second and third quarters, especially the third quarter, the price will increase.”

Traditionally, iodine has come from Japan and more lately from Chile.

But with a production limit in Japan and suppliers in Chile having problems with water access, costs elsewhere are rising he says.

That leaves an opportunity for companies such as Iofina and Baller say it is ready to take advantage.

Each new iodine plant costs between US$1-1.5 million, but the payback is pretty quick and funding should not be a problem especially with each new plant potentially chipping in profits of US$6 million per year.

At the time of the dual site acquisition, Iofina only said that the deal would  “positively impact” the group's bottom line moving forward, but if the numbers do stack up in the way the company expects this could be a serious understatement.

Iofina hopes the acquisition of a new dual-production brine stream process site at its core Southwest operations area will result in capital cost savings.

The site purchase includes one acre of land, access roads, and easements for brine lines, electric and other utilities. Iofina noted that the site is located between two brine water disposal facilities of two New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) listed oil and gas majors.

The site will be able to extract iodine rich brine streams from both operators by Iofina's WET IOsorb iodine extraction plant, resulting in a reduction of operating and capital expenditures.

The site will now be placed into the company’s backlog of sites and locations for rollout.

“The board is pleased with the purchase of our first company owned mid-stream production site,” said chief executive and president of Iofina Lance Baller.

“By having a central group owned site it allows us to use this dual brine model at other locations while reducing both opex and capex costs compared to an individual site.”

The company simultaneously announced that it has now entered into the iodine recycling business to manage waste streams from chemical, nylon, electronics and pharmaceuticals manufacturing.

Iofina is currently processing iodine from these sources at its Iofina Chemical location in Covington, Kentucky.

The recycled iodine is then used to produce iodine chemical derivatives.

“The entry into iodine recycling...completes the full circle of iodine production, iodine chemical derivatives and iodine recycling for complete vertical integration into the iodine market,” said Baller.

“We believe that this will positively impact the group's bottom line moving forward.”

Investors welcomed the news, sending shares in Iofina up 4.5 per cent to 41 pence, giving it a market cap of £47.45 million.

Colorado-based Penford makes natural-based ingredient systems for food and industrial applications mainly in the U.S. Its starch products are made from corn and potatoes, which are used as binders and coatings in paper and food production, as well as an ingredient in fuel.

The company narrowed its net loss to $350,000, or three cents a share, compared with a net loss of $1.5 million, or 13 cents a share, a year-ago.

For the quarter that ended February 29, consolidated net sales rose 15.8 percent to $86.1 million from $74.3 million a year earlier.

Revenue in the food ingredients unit – which provides specialty starches to the food service sector – jumped by 40 percent to $24.9 million from $17.7 million. The segment’s operating profit rose to $5.2 million from $3.5 million in the year-ago period.

The industrial ingredient division saw sales grow to $61.2 million, up from $56.5 million a year earlier, helped by volume growth and improved pricing. The division’s operating net loss narrowed to $985,000 compared to $1.1 million last year.

Penford attributed the eight percent sales increase in its industrial ingredient unit to speciality starches and higher processing fees, as well as its Carolina Starches business.

Its corporate expenses rose to $6.4 million from $5.23 million in the prior year period, due to higher professional fees, employee costs and acquisition-related charges.

Next month, the company plans to redeem $20 million worth of its Series A cumulative non-voting, non convertible preferred stock. The stock will be called without premium at issue price, the company said.

Banks debt rose to $30.7 million in the latest quarter, reflecting the $8.5 million acquisition of Carolina Starches in January this year.

Penford’s share price closed Thursday at $6.90 in trade on the Nasdaq. Its stock was inactive during pre-market trade on Monday.

Iofina (LON:IOF), the iodine extraction specialist, this morning gave an upbeat assessment of prospects based on the outlook for the iodine price and the performance of its mid-stream business.

The group works with US oil and gas companies to deploy its well extraction technology (known as WET) that processes the brine associated with gas and oil production.

The group is already working with a number of large operators and handling up to 30,000 barrels of brine per day and is talks with other potential customers. 

At the same time the group is looking to expand its specialty chemicals operation with the purchase of 13 acres of land next to its current manufacturing site.

Chief executive Lance Baller said: "The board is pleased to report that the group is encouraged by forward-looking cash flow generation, robust iodine prices and overall performance of the management team and staff.  

“It is the result of considerable hard work, both from the technology and commercial divisions, that Iofina has been able to secure contracts with large independent oil and gas producers in its mid-stream business.  

“Iofina's strong reputation and presence in the market is now well-established.  With its geological model, robust technology and current customers, the group is well positioned for a strong 2012 and beyond."

For the three months that ended January 31, the specialty chemicals maker posted net income of $2.5 million, or $0.21 per share, up four percent from $2.4 million, or $0.21 per share, a year ago.

KMG said the latest quarter included a $1.5 million non-recurring pre-tax expense, equal to $0.08 per share. The expense included a two-cent per share charge related to losses from KMG's discontinued operations at its Matamoros facility.

Adjusted for these items, earnings rose to $0.29 per share, but still missed analysts' $0.30 per share estimate, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.

Total revenues for the period rose over seven percent to $69.7 million, from $64.9 million in the same period last year.

"The benefits of our Electronic Chemicals plant consolidation and integration activities continued to accrue, as evidenced by a decline in distribution expenses and a rise in segment operating profits despite the impact of non-recurring charges," said president and CEO, Neal Butler.

"We ended the quarter in a strong financial position, with $1.9 million in cash, net cash provided by operating activities of $14.5 million, and an improved debt profile.

"As previously announced, our Board of Directors declared a 20% increase in the company’s quarterly cash dividend to $0.03 per share."

Revenues from the company's electronic chemicals business rose over seven percent to $38.6 million, reflecting higher prices in the second half of 2011. KMG said it sold electronic chemicals to two new semiconductor sites in the U.S., which helped to mitigate the overall soft semiconductor industry.

The company also said its electronic chemicals business took a $500,000 hit during the quarter, related to its decision to consolidate the segment. The charge was related to an inventory adjustment, it said.

Its wood treating chemicals unit posted a 10 percent rise in revenues, to $28.4 million, reflecting higher prices, while its animal health segment posted a 15 percent drop in revenues, to $2.7 million.

Revenues in the animal health segment are generally weighted to the second half of the year, KMG said.

Earlier this month, KMG said it sold the assets of its animal health segment to Bayer Healthcare LLP for $10.3 million.

Under the terms of the agreement, Bayer received all manufacturing equipment, inventory, and product registrations associated with the division, though KMG retained the real estate and buildings at the facility in Elwood, Kansas.

Looking forward, KMG said it expects to release better results in the second half of 2012, as the price increases it implemented last year, in order to battle rising commodity costs, continue to take hold.

On the Nasdaq Exchange, shares of the Houston, Texas-based company rose 1.7 percent to $17.92, as of 1:23 pm EDT.

For the three months that ended December 31, the maker of colours, flavours, and fragrances for a variety of applications posted earnings attributable to shareholders of $28.59 million, or $0.57 per share, up 11 percent from $25.78 million, or $0.52 per share, a year ago.

Under the terms of generally accepted accounting principles, Sensient revalued its previously-held interest in Les Colorants Wackherr do Brasil following its purchase of the remaining stake.The revaluation resulted in a $3.6 million, or $0.07 per share, gain during the quarter.

Revenues were relatively flat, at $340.36 million.

According to Thomson Reuters, analysts had expected earnings of 56-cents per share, on $352.6 million in revenues.

"The company performed exceptionally well in 2011," said president and CEO, Kenneth P. Manning.

"We achieved record revenue and earnings for the second consecutive year, made substantial investments in our operations, reduced debt and increased the dividend to shareholders."

Sensient released its 2012 earnings outlook, and expects profits between $2.48 and $2.58 per share. Analysts are expecting $2.56 per share in earnings.

In the fourth quarter, earnings under the company's flavours and fragrances business increased 9.3 percent to $32.2 million, as a negative one percent effect of foreign currency translation was offset by the U.S. flavour business, Sensient said.

The colour unit posted $20.3 million in earnings, up 11 percent, as the North American business and Sensient's focus on the natural colour market offset a two percent decline due to foreign currency translation.

Overall, foreign currency translation lowered total revenues by two percent and operating income by three percent.

For the full year fiscal 2011, Sensient posted net earnings of $120.5 million, or $2.41 per share, up 12.5 percent.

Revenues hiked eight percent to $1.43 billion.

Sensient uses its technologies to develop specialty food and beverage systems, cosmetic and pharmaceutical systems, inkjet and specialty inks and colors, and other specialty chemicals.

Including debt, the deal is valued at about $4.7 billion, Eastman said. It plans to pay for Solutia with cash on hand, shares and debt.

Under the deal, Eastman will pay $22.00 cash, plus 0.12 of a share, for each Solutia share. The deal value of $27.65 a share is based on Thursday's closing prices, and represents a 42 percent premium for Solutia shareholders.

Friday's deal is expected to close in mid-2012.

Solutia's chemicals are used in products from tires to iPads. It emerged from bankruptcy in 2008.

Eastman Chemical's chief executive, Jim Rogers, said: "Solutia has transformed itself into a financially strong, innovative performance materials and specialty chemicals company, with enviable market leading positions in virtually every market it serves."

After years of sluggish growth, Eastman is now expanding its lucrative specialty plastics and wood applications businesses, and its shares are up about 15 percent in the past 12 months.

The merger would add to earnings immediately, Eastman said, and the combined company would save around $100 million per year in costs by the end of 2013.

Eastman Chemical was formed in 1994, when Eastman Kodak spun off its chemical business to help pay down debt. Kodak filed for bankruptcy in early January.

For the quarter that ended December 31, net income fell 49 percent to $1.69 billion from $3.33 billion.

Adjusted earnings per share of $1.10, however, beat analyst estimates of $1.07.

Revenue grew four percent to $22.1 billion, helped by higher prices. That was roughly in line with the expectations of analysts polled by FactSet.

Procter & Gamble's chairman, president and chief executive, Bob McDonald, said: "We continue to make progress against our key business priorities in a difficult macroeconomic environment.

"We delivered solid top-line growth and continued to accelerate productivity improvements to drive down costs. With the easing of commodity cost comparisons over the next two quarters, continued solid top-line growth and cost savings progress, we expect operating profit growth to accelerate in the second half of the fiscal year."

P&G is the maker of Bounty paper towels and Charmin toilet paper.

Higher commodity costs have been a concern for many consumer goods companies. P&G has worked to counter these costs by raising prices and keeping a sharp eye on expenses, a difficult task in a still-cautious consumer environment.

The bulk of the one-time charges in the quarter stemmed from the company's decision to write down the value of its appliances unit, where the biggest seller is electric shavers, and the salon professional unit.

The company noted that those items tend to be discretionary purchases, and it can be hard to persuade shoppers to buy things they don't absolutely need in a weak economy.

Western Europe, where concerns about a debt crisis are crimping the economy, accounts for about half the sales for both units.

Gross margin in the quarter narrowed to 49.7 percent from 51.8 percent, due mainly to higher commodity costs.

P&G also cut its full-year earnings forecast, citing negative currency effects. For the year, the company now expects earnings of $4 to $4.10 a share, down from its prior call for a profit of $4.15 to $4.33 a share.

For the quarter that ended December 31, the company reported net income of $373 million, or 40 cents per share, lower than the $376 million, or 40 cents per share, in the previous year's fourth quarter.

Higher costs for materials and a higher tax rate contributed to the decline, DuPont said.

The earnings topped analyst expectations for 33 cents per share, according to FactSet.

Sales in the fourth quarter grew 14 percent to $8.4 billion.

DuPont chairwoman and CEO, Ellen Kullman, said: "We delivered exceptional full-year results in 2011 despite significant market headwinds late in the year. We remain well-positioned to serve customers and innovate as key markets rebound and global population growth drives new opportunities."

In the fourth quarter, the chemicals maker saw volumes decline in all of its regions, led by a 23 percent drop in the Asia-Pacific region.

The company said the volume declines were driven by de-stocking in photovoltaics, polymer and industrial supply chains, and weaker demand for products used in consumer electronics and construction.

In DuPont's electronics and communications unit, revenue fell 18 percent, and volumes declined by 33 percent. Volumes were down 17 percent in performance chemicals, and 13 percent in performance materials.

DuPont said sales in its nutrition and health unit were up $468 million to $806 million, reflecting last year's acquisition of Danish company Danisco's specialty food ingredients business.

The agriculture business led all DuPont business segments in full-year volume performance with an increase of 10 percent.

Double-digit sales growth in many other units was largely attributable to higher selling prices.

For the full year, DuPont said higher selling prices and acquisitions in health and nutrition and industrial biosciences helped lead to record earnings. The company reported full-year 2011 adjusted earnings of about $3.5 billion, or $3.68 per share, compared with $3.05 billion, or $3.28 per share, for the previous year.

Last month, DuPont cut its 2011 earnings forecast due to weaker demand in several sectors, including electronics and industrial supplies, predicting an adjusted 2011 profit of $3.87 to $3.95 per share, down 10 cents from its October guidance and below analyst expectations.

DuPont reaffirmed Tuesday its previous guidance for earnings to increase by 12 percent in 2012, to a range of between $4.20 and $4.40 per share.

Shares of the company edged down 0.02% to $49.34 before the bell on Tuesday.

The news sent shares of the Vancouver, B.C.-based company up 21.82 percent to $0.335, as of 3:21 pm EDT.

Spur said it wants to completely dispose of and exit from its mining and fertilizer business in China, to focus all of its resources and treasury on advancing development and operating assets in the mineral resource sector.

Under the terms of the agreement, Hong Tang will buy all the issued and outstanding shares of Spur Chemicals for $9.25 million. Currently, a $9 million deposit is being held in escrow with Hong Tang's lawyers. Following shareholder and TSX approval, the full amount will be released to Spur.

Spur chairman, Steven Dean, commented: "With the $9.25 million proceeds from the sale of Spur BVI, the company will have approximately $30 million (or approximately $0.50 per share) in cash or cash equivalents, all held in Canadian financial institutions, to invest in executing the business strategy announced in October, 2008.

"The successful sale of our Chinese interests will clear the slate of any contingent liability to allocate our capital in China to protect our rights there, and clears the path to fully embracing our current business plan.

"We believe the current volatile capital markets combined with the strong underlying fundamentals of certain mineral commodities, will provide Spur the long awaited capacity to get back on track to generate real returns to shareholders."

Spur Chemicals owns a 49 percent interest in Yichang Maple Leaf Chemicals (YML). YML's main assets are the Shukongping and Dianziping phosphate deposits. YML, which is 51 percent owned by Hubei Yichang Phosphorus Chemical Company Ltd (YPCC), a state-owned business, is also approved to process over 1.2 million tonnes of phosphate rock into compound phosphate fertilizers each year.

Should Chinese authorities remove YML's obligations to produce phosphate fertilizers, thus licensing YML to only be a phosphate mining company, Spur will be entitled to receive another $4.75 million in cash from Hong Tang, valuing the deal at $14 million.

Spur's subsidiary also owns a 72 percent interest in Yichang Spur Chemicals (YSC), with YPCC and YML owning the remaining 17 percent and 11 percent, respectively. YSC's main asset is a fertilizer production facility that has an annual production capacity of 100,000 tonnes of NPK fertilizer and 60,000 tonnes of phosphoric acid.

YSC has been idle since 2008, though it was intended to be merged with YML, becoming an integral part of the larger YML phosphate project, Spur said.

The sale of Spur Chemicals is subject to approval by two-thirds percent of Spur shareholders, which will vote on the transaction at the upcoming special meeting on February 7.

The company said that failure to approve the deal will result in a $37 million investment on its part to YML. This investment, which is required under the company's registered capital obligations, would result in Spur spending its entire treasury and the need to seek $15 million in financing.

However, should the sale be approved, Spur will need to meet with the TSX to evaluate opportunities to acquire eligible mining assets so as to ensure its continued listing.

Still, Spur said it will not rush any transactions, and may consider listing on the more-junior TSX Venture Exchange instead. Regardless, its shares will continue to trade on the OTC Bulletin Board in the U.S.

Assuming approval by all required parties, the deal is expected to close in early February 2012, and Spur will record a $3.5 million accounting gain.

In a statement, the company said that it would pay a quarterly dividend of 3.75 cents per share in March, to shareholders of record as of February 15.

Solutia's chairman, president and chief executive officer, Jeffry N. Quinn, said: "Over the course of the next four years, we see significant opportunity to build upon Solutia's foundation of core businesses with leading market positions, superior product quality and technical service capabilities, supported by favorable secular trends.

"When combined with our innovation and technology initiatives, I am confident we will drive continued strong financial performance."

Solutia also forecast 2012 adjusted earnings of $2.00 to $2.30 per share, above the $2.00 it expects for 2011. Analysts expect $2.24 a share, according to Thomson Reuters.

The company expects 2012 revenue at $2.12 to $2.27 billion, while analysts, on average, expect revenues of $2.23 billion.

In October, the company reported that third-quarter earnings rose 56 percent as two of its three major divisions posted modest sales growth.

“As a supplier of engineered biomaterials for the paper coating process, our sales this quarter are a direct reflection of the challenges faced by our customers to gauge demand for their products,” chief executive John van Leeuwen said in a statement.

Preliminary revenues of $3.2 to $3.5 million compare to $5.9 million a year-earlier. EcoSynthetix's fourth quarter ends on December 31, 2011.

EcoSynthetix, a renewable chemicals company, said the change in revenue is due to “significantly” reduced sales to a major customer in Asia, and customers reducing their raw material inventories because of market weakness in the paper and paperboard industry.

Recent announcements by a number of paper and paperboard companies suggest that economic uncertainty has resulted in a reduction in raw material inventories, layoffs, plant closures, as well as some suggesting they will temporarily shutter some capacity in first quarter of 2012, the company said.

“While this is a challenging period for paper and paperboard companies, the same industry conditions that have contributed to our weaker top-line this quarter are those that should ultimately support demand for our lower-cost products,” Leeuwen added.

EcoSynthetix focuses on bio-materials which can be used as inputs in industrial manufacturing for a variety of products such as: paint, paper and adhesives. Its products are displacing petroleum-based synthetic polymers.

Shares of the company lost 75 cents, or 12.40 percent, falling to $5.30 each today on Toronto’s main trading index.

For the three months that ended October 31, the provider of specialty chemicals posted net income of $3.54 million, or $0.31 per share, up one percent from $3.52 million, or $0.31 per share, a year ago.

Total sales increased 18 percent to $73.31 million, from $62.10 million in the same period last year.

Analysts polled by Bloomberg Businessweek had anticipated $0.30 per share in earnings for the quarter, on $64.6 million in sales.

"As we have previously discussed, barring any substantial economic downturn we remain confident in our ability to generate significantly improved results in fiscal 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011," commented president and CEO, Neal Butler.

"The positive impact of our Electronic Chemicals plant consolidation began to manifest itself in the fiscal 2012 first quarter, as segment operating profits rebounded to their highest levels since the first quarter of fiscal 2011."

Under its electronic chemicals banner, KMG posted $38.38 million in sales, up over four percent, though segment earnings fell 12 percent year-over-year. Higher cost inventory, related to the plant consolidation, and the rising price of raw materials, negatively impacted the segment, KMG said.

Still, global price increases were implemented at the end of fiscal 2011, and target price increases continue through to the second quarter of fiscal 2012, the company added.

Under its wood treating chemicals business, pricing actions across all product lines helped boost sales to $33.16 million, a 37 percent increase. In animal health, sales rose to $1.77 million, from a $1.51 million charge a year ago, largely on the international sales of ear tags.

Butler added: "We believe that the strong start to fiscal 2012 bodes well for our performance for the balance of the year.

"Industry resources project a growth in chip demand during calendar 2012. We believe we will experience organic growth in our Electronic Chemicals business in the second half of fiscal 2012 as compared to the comparable prior year period, driven by new semiconductor fabrication facilities in our North American market.

"Seasonal softness in all segments is expected to produce a small drop in net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 when compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2012."

On the Nasdaq Exchange, KMG shares rose 1.32 percent to $15.36, as of 9:43 am EDT.