Chemtura Announces Decision in European Union Rubber Chemicals Investigation and Settlements in Antitrust Lawsuits.MIDDLEBURY, Conn. -- Chemtura Corporation Chemtura Corporation (NYSE: CEM) is a marketer of specialty chemicals, polymer products and processing equipment for a variety of industries. The company formed in 2005 from the merger of two other corporations -- Great Lakes Chemical Corporation of West Lafayette, Indiana, (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :CEM CEM contagious equine metritis. CEM selective medium chocolate agar made with Eugon agar and 5% horse blood; used to cultivate Taylorella equigenitalis. ) announced that the European Commission European Commission, branch of the governing body of the European Union (EU) invested with executive and some legislative powers. Located in Brussels, Belgium, it was founded in 1967 when the three treaty organizations comprising what was then the European Community (EC) has imposed a fine of Euros 13.6 million (approximately $16 million) on the company in connection with the EC's rubber chemicals investigation. Chemtura's continual cooperation with the EC throughout its investigation of conduct prior to October 2002 resulted in the company receiving maximum leniency le·ni·en·cy n. pl. le·ni·en·cies 1. The condition or quality of being lenient. See Synonyms at mercy. 2. A lenient act. Noun 1. , a 50 percent reduction in its fine. The company believes that this marks the end of coordinated investigations by the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , Canada and the European Union European Union (EU), name given since the ratification (Nov., 1993) of the Treaty of European Union, or Maastricht Treaty, to the European Community that were first publicly announced in the fall of 2002. E[acute accent]"We are pleased to see this lengthy and expensive legacy ordeal resolved," said Robert L. Wood, chairman, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . E[acute accent]Separately, Chemtura announced that it has settled rubber chemicals direct-purchaser, antitrust claims with claimants representing over half of the company's relevant U.S. rubber chemicals sales and has also settled other antitrust-related civil matters for a combined total of approximately $50 million. E[acute accent]In the fourth quarter of 2005 Chemtura will take a charge of approximately $16 million for the EC fine and a charge of $11 million to increase its previously established reserves for antitrust matters. E[acute accent]"The decisions announced today reflect the very significant progress we are making in bringing these legal issues to closure so that we can give our undivided attention to value-creating commercial priorities that are in the best interests of our shareholders," Wood concluded. E[acute accent]Chemtura Corporation, with pro forma As a matter of form or for the sake of form. Used to describe accounting, financial, and other statements or conclusions based upon assumed or anticipated facts. The phrase pro forma 2004 sales of $3.9 billion, is a global manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals, crop protection and pool, spa and home care products. Additional information concerning Chemtura is available at www.chemtura.com. E[acute accent]Forward-Looking Statement forward-looking statement A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections. E[acute accent]Certain statements made in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, general economic conditions; the outcome and timing of antitrust investigations and related civil lawsuits to which Chemtura is subject; the ability to obtain increases in selling prices; pension and other post-retirement benefit plan assumptions; energy and raw material prices and availability; production capacity; changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; changes in technology, market demand and customer requirements; the enactment of more stringent environmental laws and regulations; the ability to realize expected cost savings under Chemtura's cost-reduction initiatives; the amount of any additional earn-out payments from General Electric Company from the sale of the OrganoSilicones business; the ability to reduce Chemtura's debt levels; the ability to successfully integrate the Crompton and Great Lakes businesses and operations and achieve anticipated benefits from the merger, including costs savings and synergies; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Chemtura or its predecessor companies. These statements are based on Chemtura's estimates and assumptions and on currently available information. The forward-looking statements include information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations, and Chemtura's actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed. Forward-looking information is intended to reflect opinions as of the date this release was issued and such information will not necessarily be updated by Chemtura. |
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