COLOGNE, Germany - The specialty chemicals company LANXESS announced plans to acquire U.S.-based Chemtura Corp., a provider of flame retardant and lubricant additives, in a deal valued at approximately $2.7 billion. With the largest acquisition in its history, LANXESS is building on its own additives portfolio and will become one of the world’s major actors in this growing market.
The companies have signed a definitive acquisition agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Chemtura shareholders will receive $33.50 per share in cash for each outstanding share of common stock held. The transaction will be financed by LANXESS mainly through senior and hybrid bonds, as well as from existing liquidity. The transaction, which is expected to close around mid-2017, is subject to approval by Chemtura shareholders, required regulatory approvals and certain other customary closing conditions.
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Chemtura has 20 sites in 11 countries and approximately 2,500 employees worldwide. In addition to additives, Chemtura’s portfolio includes urethanes and organometallics.
“With this acquisition, we are forming a champion in the field of additives and are strengthening our already profitable portfolio,” said Matthias Zachert, Chairman of the Board of Management of LANXESS AG. “Through the acquisition, we are further implementing our strategy to become a more resilient and profitable chemical company. We are significantly building on our competitive positioning in medium-sized markets and increasing our presence in North America. LANXESS is taking a next and major step forward on its growth path.”
Chemtura’s two additive segments form the main pillars of the company’s business. Both will, together with LANXESS’ Rhein Chemie Additives business unit (ADD), form the new Performance Additives segment after the closing of the transaction. ADD already offers a wide range of specialty additives and service products for plastics, rubber, lubricants and colorants production, and employs around 1,600 employees worldwide at more than 20 locations. “Additives is a very attractive business field in specialty chemicals. In addition to their relatively low capital intensity, they require strong expertise and enable customized solutions. In this area, both Chemtura and LANXESS have long-standing expertise,“ said Anno Borkowsky, head of the LANXESS business unit Rhein Chemie Additives.
The first pillar of Chemtura’s additives business includes lubricant additives and synthetic lubricants for industrial applications, such as in power generation and aviation. The second pillar is mainly comprised of the brominated flame retardant additives, elemental bromine and further bromine derivatives businesses.
Chemtura’s urethane business is a major provider for hot-cast prepolymers and for special, aqueous urethane dispersions and polyester polyols. These are components for special polyurethanes, which are used mainly in the construction, mining, oil and gas, sports, and electronics industries.
Chemtura is counted among the major companies worldwide in organometallics. Organometallics are chemical compounds that are used, among other things, as catalysts in polymer production and for synthesis of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. This business will in the future be part of LANXESS’ Advanced Industrial Intermediates business unit.
