Wednesday, July 4, 2012

WHY INVESTORS UNDERESTIMATE COURTAULDS (1988)

Courtaulds shares are falling although November interim results were up to expectations. The company's development is traced from its initial breakthrough with viscose rayon to its present diversified range of products. In the 1960's a policy of acquiring textile and clothing companies to absorb its fibres production made it vulnerable to economic downturn. A management controlled business system now operates in the six main product sectors monitoring 'profit centres' for profitability. A modest acquisition policy is now being pursued in paints to bolster the declining marine market, and in brand name clothes. Genesis, a new fibre superior to viscose, forms a new range of clothes, and rapid growth in oriented polypropylene is bolstering the packaging group. Carbon fibres and acrylics are problem areas, as are dollar related textile imports. Analysts are optimistic that its strong balance sheet means a continuation of acquisitive growth. 

Bennett N, Investors Chron. vol. 83, no. 1040, 15-21 Jan. 1988, pp 18-19


There are no releases containing "Genesis" on the computer database for 1987 although I recall some coverage in New Scientist at that time, which I'll try to locate.  Does anyone have anything from 1987?

7 comments:

Pauline Chambers said...

The name 'genesis' had mostly been abandoned by this time. A search for Tencel might be more productive.

Calvin said...

Thanks Pauline! You're the first to comment. I checked for Tencel and Lyocell but couldn't find anything else. However the only database I subscribe to is PIRABASE and while this does cover a wide range of journals it is biased to nonwovens and papermaking. Any suggestions for better sources would be welcome.

Sheff said...

I remember there being a sort of 'coffee time' challenge to come up with a new name for Genesis for the commercial launch. I forget my entries, but they clearly didn't win! Anyone recall who came up with Tencel?

Calvin said...

...and who came up with Genesis??

Sheff said...

Calvin, have you tried a patent search yet? There was a raft of patents taken out in the 90's once we gave up on the "let's keep it all secret" ploy. Maybe some earlier too perhaps?

calvin said...

Not tried patents yet, will shortly...but... the "no patenting - lets keep the technology really secret" policy lasted until Lenzing woke us up by patenting our Filmtruder technology. I don't recall any earlier.

Calvin said...

A quick look at the database revealed:

The first record containing (Courtaulds and Amine Oxide) comes in WO83/04415 (Polymer Solutions by Pete Laity published on 22/12/1983). The second record as above comes in USP 5370322 filed almost 10 years later on 24/5/1993, by Gary Gray and Philp Pennicott, (Filtering particulate cellulosic-based material).

The first Lenzing patent, (Process and arrangement for preparing a solution of cellulose from Zikeli, Virgo, Eichinger et al) was filed on 2/8/1991 but was a continuation of the abandoned Application Ser. No. 389499 (4/8/1989)

I think it might be worthwhile cutting/pasting the whole list of Courtaulds and Lenzing's amine-oxide process patents onto a Tabbed Page later.