This document discusses the company Catexel, a Unilever spin out company that sells oxidation catalyst solutions. Catexel owns a broad intellectual property portfolio of catalysts acquired from Unilever in 2006/2007. Catexel develops and sells products based on these catalysts, including technologies for saving energy, water, and waste. Catexel's main products are manganese-based bleach catalysts and an iron-based catalyst called FeONIX that is used as a paint drier. Catexel aims to license or sell its catalyst technologies to chemical companies. The document also discusses the author's role working for a small, flexible spin out company.

1. My job at a Unilever spin out company
Karin Maaijen - September13, 2012
1

2. Catexel
What do we do?
 We sell oxidation catalysts based solutions for saving:
 Energy
 Water
 Waste
and offer
 Substitution of “under-threat” technologies
 Improved application performance
 We protect our markets using intellectual assets:
 Broad IP portfolio on catalysts acquired from Unilever in 2006/7
 Significant patent additions in last 7 years (17 patents published)
 We make money by making and selling products.
 We outsource manufacturing through exclusive deals
2 September 2012

3. Unilever spin out
History Current company
1994 Unilever developed an active  Two technical platforms in commercial
manganese bleach catalyst for use
domestic detergent cleaning
2004 Seed funding by Unilever Ventures to  Small company; 10-11 people;
test catalyst for industrial applications NL, UK, PRC
2006 Unilever Ventures set-up Rahu
Catalytics to commercialise this and  Commercial headquarters in UK
related catalysts
 Strong R&D capabilities and IP
2010 Second generation manganese
catalyst developed
 Development for different application
areas
2008 Iron catalyst found to be active for  Aim from Unilever Ventures (main
shareholder): selling Catexel at certain
2009 paint drying , exclusive licence to
OMG point to a chemical industry company
2011
Rahu/Fe-catalyst for paints coatings
sold to OMG, set-up of Catexel
3 September 2012

4. Catexel
Oxidation Catalysis
Transition metal – ligand complexes
Peroxide activators/catalysts Alkylhydroperoxide activation
DRAGON & PEGASUS FeONIX
Mn-Me3TACN chemistry Fe-bispidon chemistry
Cellulosic bleaching (cotton, viscose & pulp) Alkylhydroperoxide activation for
Starch modification polymerisation and radical-based synthesis
Chemical synthesis (epoxidation, etc) Detergents and cleaning (stain removal)
Laundry and dishwash detergents and Note: FeONIX/inks, coatings and composites
cleaning (stain removal) sold to OMG
4 September 2012

5. Chemistry from A to B
Dragon & Pegasus FeONIX
2+ 2+
Me Me N N
N
O
O N
N N O O
Me N Mn O Mn N Me
N Mn O Mn
N O
N N N N O O
O O O
Me Me
N
N N
From detergent applications to industrial cotton and wood From tomato stain bleaching to paint drying.
pulp bleaching.
OH O
OH
OH
C
OH HO H H
OX OH
Morin OH Unsaturated oil
OH
Raw cotton chromophores
HO O
HO O O R
glycerol
OH OH
OX linseed oil O
OH OMe O
R
OH
Tea stains : theaflavins O
O
OMe O
Lignin residue OH phthalic
Wood pulp chromophores acid O
O
anhydride
5 September 2012

6. FeONIX as paint drier
C
 Alkyd paint: H H
O2
 Binder (unsaturated resins) Catalyst
H
O2
 Organic solvent or water
C 16
 Pigments H
RH
 Additives (e.g. paint drying catalysts) R
HO
O
 Cobalt soap driers:
Catalyst
 Possible classification of Co-2-ethylhexanoate
O
as carcinogen (REACh)
 Therefore, creation of uncertainty in paint industry +
O
 Issues on stability in waterborne paints O
Branching: R – R
R–O–R
R–O–O–R
6 Catexel Introduction - Strictly Confidential September
2012

7. FeONIX
12
 High activity in SB and WB paints 10
drying time [h]
 Can be added in low dosage 8
6
 Less decolouration than Co- or Mn-soaps 4
2
 High stability in WB paints
0
0.079% Co 0.00065% Fe
Co, Zr drier new catalyst
 RahuCat successfully exited on plan in Dec 2011
 Simultaneous exit to two acquiring businesses:
 Catexel operating from 01 January 2012
7 September 2012

8. My job
 Working in a spin out company
- pro’s and con’s –
 Flexibility
 Versatility
 Creativity
 Short lines
 Uncertainty
 Different mind set
8 September 2012