K-Dow Petrochemicals was a planned $17.4 billion joint venture between The Dow Chemical Company and Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) of the State of Kuwait, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC).[1] A joint venture between the two companies was signed in July 2008.[2] However, critics to the deal from members of the Kuwaiti parliament [2] lead to its collapse in December 2008.[3] Dow sued PIC, and was awarded over $2 bn damages by a non-governmental court in 2012.[4]
| Company type | Joint Venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Petrochemical Manufacturing |
| Headquarters | Michigan, United States |
Key people | Jim Fitterling, CEO |
| Products | Polyethylene, Ethylenediamines, Ethanolamines, Polypropylene, and Polycarbonate |
History edit
Formation edit
K-Dow Petrochemicals was to be a multinational corporation specializing in the manufacturing of plastics. It was an $11 billion joint venture between The Dow Chemical Company and Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) of the State of Kuwait, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC).[5] On July 15, 2008, the two companies announced the location of their headquarters was to be in Southeast Michigan.[5] In the third quarter 2008 earnings conference call, Dow Chemical officials stated the K-Dow joint venture was on track to close by the end of the year. On December 1, 2008, the two companies announced that they had signed a memorandum of understanding outlining agreed-upon details about the joint venture. The transactions was expected to close on January 1, 2009. Operations were expected to begin on that same date.[1]
Breakup edit
Citing the global recession that begin in the later half of 2008, the Kuwaiti government scuttled the partnership prior to its launch on December 28, 2008.[6]
Dow currently has arbitration pending against KPC. The original MOU had a damages clause that allowed for damaged up to $2.5 Billion. Dow Chemical has stated the damages they are seeking may be in excess of that amount.
Subsidiaries edit
As a part of the Joint-Venture formation two of Dow Chemical's current joint-ventures with Kuwait Petroleum Corporation were to be transferred to K-Dow.
- Equipolymers
- MEGlobal
References edit
- ^ a b "Dow and PIC of Kuwait Sign Binding Joint Venture Agreement to Launch K-Dow Petrochemicals". PR Newswire. Retrieved 2008-12-01. [dead link]
- ^ a b Dow signs JV with PIC July 2008 Archived July 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kuwait cancels $17 billion joint venture, Reuters Dec 28 2008
- ^ International Chamber of Commerce International Court awards $2.16 bn to Dow in Kuwait arbitration
- ^ a b Christoff, Chris (July 15, 2008).New Dow Chemical venture to bring 800 jobs to southeastern Michigan[permanent dead link].The Detroit Free Press. Retrieved on July 2, 2010.
- ^ Diana Elias (December 28, 2008). "Kuwait scraps$17.4 billion venture with Dow Chemical". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved December 28, 2008.[dead link]