Explosion and Fire at Himeji Plant (#14)

NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD [Tokyo Stock Exchange – TOKSE: 4114.T] (“NIPPON SHOKUBAI”) is deeply saddened by the loss of life resulting from the accident at the Himeji Plant on September 29, 2012 and extends its sincere condolences to family members. NIPPON SHOKUBAI extends its sincere apologies to the individuals who were injured by this accident and to the enormous problems this incident caused for the neighborhood of the plant and to other people associated with this incident.

NIPPON SHOKUBAI had received orders to suspend operation of some of the facilities of hazardous substances in the plant from the mayor of Himeji city since September 29. On April 30, NIPPON SHOKUBAI received another lift of restrictions for some part of facilities in the plant from the authority as mentioned below.

On April 30, NIPPON SHOKUBAI received another lift of restrictions for total 29 facilities including a production facility (for methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate), common facilities, warehouses and tanks from the authority, as public safety for these was confirmed. Subject facilities of the orders to suspend operation are total 36 as of today.

With the rift of restrictions and taking care of the plants’ safety, NIPPON SHOKUBAI proceeds to re-start the operation of some production facilities not derived from acrylic acid in order.

At this time, the following products’ production facilities are in operation;

Functional Chemicals
– Polymer for concrete admixture (AQUALOC)
– Maleic anhydride
– Fumaric acid
– Succinic acid
– Disodium succinate (SS50)
– N-phenylmaleimide (IMILEX-P)
– Maleimide-copolymer (POLYIMILEX)
– Oxazoline-functional polymer (EPOCROS)
– Acrylic resins for paints and adhesives produced by Nippon Polymer Industries Co., Ltd., next to the NIPPON SHOKUBAI Himeji Plant
– Acrylic resins for optical materials (ACRYVIEWA)
– Resist polymers for color filter (ACRYCURE)
– Spherical fine particles (EPOSTAR)
– Silica particles (SEAHOSTAR)
– Particles for antireflection film (SOLIOSTAR RA)
– VEEA (UV/EB curable materials)
– AME (paint & rubber materials)

Environment & Catalysts
– Automotive catalysts
– De-NOx catalysts
– Dioxins decomposition catalysts
– Catalysts for catalytic wet oxidation wastewater treatment
– Process catalysts


Contact
Investor & Public Relations Dept.,
NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
TEL: +81-3-3506-7477
E-mail: shokubai@n.shokubai.co.jp