The following is excerpted from the question-and-answer section of the transcript.
(Questions from industry analysts are provided in full, but answers are omitted - download the transcript to see the full question-and-answer session)
Question: Emmanuel Matot - ODDO BHF Corporate & Markets, Research Division - Analyst
: Three questions for me. First, could you give us more details about the first more positive signs in Asia you are mentioning in your press release
this morning, which end markets are concerned? Is it both China and rest of Asia? Second, what explains the situation of temporary destocking in
batteries in China? How long it will last? And third, have you had any feedback from the European authorities following your press release at the
end of February on ? Are they considering your view that the proposed restriction by 5 state members is too broad? What are the next steps?
Question: Jaideep Mukesh Pandya - On Field Investment Research LLP - Analyst
: The first question is on Bostik. Sequentially, if you look at your sales in industrial category, they slightly went down Q4 versus Q1. So could you just
tell us, Thierry, what you're seeing in industrial end markets within adhesives right now on a geographical basis in U.S., Europe and Asia? And the
second question is really on PVDF. Apologies for asking this, but could you just tell us like fundamentally, if you have the technology to make
suspension-grade PVDF. And if so, you could actually compete at the highest end, if possible? Or is it that you guys have a genuine technological
gap with one of your listed peers? And the third question really is on Nutrien. What is the update on this project? And the 40kt, is it enough for you
to sort of make your fluoro chain green in the U.S.? Or would you need more volume if you had to do that at this moment?
Question: Jaideep Mukesh Pandya - On Field Investment Research LLP - Analyst
: Can I just ask one follow-up on the Nutrien side. There's a lot of chatter about forever chemicals in Europe. If you were to find an opportunity like
Nutrien in Europe, would then that mean that your fluoro chain becomes green and therefore, you get out of this forever chemicals headache? Or
that would still remain because the politicians, if I may say so, are being a bit naive by crafting everything into this forever chemicals basket?
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