Ownership: Cambrex Inc. from end of 1994, until then by Nobel Industries AB, Sweden, which in its turn merged into Akzo NL to form Akzo Nobel in 1994.

ADDRESS, PHONE, FAX: Björkborns Industriområde, S-691 85 Karlskoga, Sweden

ph. +46-586-83000, fax +46-586-32147, telex 73346 S.

Key contacts: Mr Carl Johansson, Marketing manager (ph -83075). Mrs Monica Lekander, General manager.

SISTER AND/OR DAUGHTER COMPANIES: Profarmaco Italy (also acquired by Cambrex). The following companies make up Cambrex i.e. 'sisters' to Nordic Synthesis; CasChem, Heico Chemicals, Humphrey Chemical, Nepera Inc., Salsbury Chemicals, Zeeland Chemicals and Seal Sands. Bofors Explosives (former Nobelkrut) on the same site as Nordic Synthesis is a seperate company today. Older names for Nordic Synthesis were Bofors Nobel Kemi and Bofors Nobelkrut.

TURNOVER/EMPLOYEES: Around 75 MUSD/300 empl.

KEY TECHNOLOGIES: Nitric acid oxidation and Nitration, both technologies in dedicated batch and continuos plants. Hydrogenation and Reductive Alkylation.

OTHER MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES: Acid chlorination, Esterification. Bulk pharmas; GMP, FDA approved plants. Handling of explosives and near explosives, handling of 99% nitric acid and oleum (over-100% sulfuric acid), multipurpose plants, remote controlled plants, spent acid recovery. In total over 200 m3 batch reactor volume. New kilo-laboratory for smaller quantities of pharma substances.

MOST IMPORTANT PRODUCTS OR PRODUCT LINES: Chemicals; p-nitrobenzoic acid and derivatives, 5-nitro- and 5-aminoisophthalic acid plus esters and amides, o- and m-nitrobenzaldehyde, 3,5-dinitro- and 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid, 2-chloro-4-nitrobenzoic acid and similars, 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, mucic acid. Pharma; 5-aminosalicylic acid, bupivacaine, eperizone, hexanicit, 5-ISMN, lidocaine, ketoprofen, mepivacaine, perycit, teprenone, tolterodin.

STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES: Very strong position in nitric acid oxidation and tough nitrations, with ample capacity for higher intermediates and pharmaceutical substances. Rather narrow technology base.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The old name Nobel will remain with Akzo Nobel (oddly because the two links with Alfred Nobel; Nordic Synthesis = Nobel Chemicals and Nitro Nobel are now both outside that organisation).