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Johnson Matthey
Johnson Matthey PLC (London UK; LSE: JMAT; ~£15.4B revenue FY2023) is a specialty chemicals and platinum group metals refining and processing company, and a critical upstream supplier of pharmaceutical-grade platinum compounds used in cisplatin and carboplatin synthesis. Johnson Matthey's Pharmaceutical Materials and Services division supplies refined platinum salts, chloroplatinic acid, and platinum chemical intermediates to API manufacturers for cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)) and carboplatin synthesis. Johnson Matthey is one of the world's principal platinum refiners, processing platinum from South African miners (Anglo American Platinum, Sibanye-Stillwater, Impala Platinum) into the high-purity platinum chemicals required for pharmaceutical synthesis. Johnson Matthey also manufactures autocatalysts for vehicle emissions control — the same platinum group metals supply chain serves both pharmaceutical cisplatin synthesis and catalytic converters.
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Clean Air (Autocatalysts)
42%Platinum Group Metals (Refining & Products)
28%Hydrogen Technologies
15%Catalysis & Chemicals
15%
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Did you know2023
Johnson Matthey PLC (London; LSE: JMAT; founded 1817 as a precious metals assaying business by Percival Johnson on Hatton Garden, London — then the center of the London gold trade) has been continuously operating for over 200 years, making it one of the oldest companies supplying a critical input to the US pharmaceutical supply chain. Johnson Matthey refines South African and Russian platinum into pharmaceutical-grade platinum compounds (chloroplatinic acid, cisplatin precursor salts) consumed by cisplatin/carboplatin API manufacturers globally. The same Johnson Matthey platinum chemistry operations also supply platinum-based autocatalysts that reduce vehicle exhaust emissions — Johnson Matthey is the world's third-largest autocatalyst manufacturer behind BASF Catalysts and Umicore. Johnson Matthey's Royston pharmaceutical materials site and its catalysts division are therefore simultaneously embedded in the supply chains for: (1) cancer chemotherapy drugs on the WHO Essential Medicines List used by tens of millions of cancer patients; (2) vehicle emissions control technologies required by EPA, EU, and Chinese emissions standards for internal combustion engines; and (3) emerging hydrogen fuel cell electrolysis catalysts. A 207-year-old London precious metals business founded near the gold traders of Hatton Garden is now a simultaneous chokepoint in global cancer treatment, automotive emissions control, and green hydrogen infrastructure.
Johnson Matthey PLC ↗Origin2023
Johnson Matthey was founded in 1817 in London by Percival Norton Johnson, who established himself as a leading precious metals assayer at a time when platinum was being recognized as an important industrial metal. George Matthey joined the partnership in 1838, and the firm became the primary refiner of platinum for British industry and the Royal Mint. JM's platinum expertise proved foundational when autocatalytic converter technology was mandated by US Clean Air Act (1970): the same company that refined platinum for Victorian-era scientific instruments became the dominant manufacturer of the catalyst technology that enabled modern clean exhaust from gasoline engines. JM was literally a 19th century precious metals assayer turned 20th century environmental technology company.
Johnson Matthey PLC ↗