Evonik agrees to sell its Methacrylates business
Evonik has signed an agreement to sell its Methacrylates business to Advent International for EUR 3 billion. The selling price (enterprise value) is 8.5 times the business’ EBITDA.
The transaction is subject to approval by the authorities in several countries and is expected to close in the third quarter of this year. The Methacrylates business has 18 production sites and 3,900 employees worldwide. From 2016 to 2018, the business generated an average annual EBITDA of about EUR 350 million and sales of about EUR 1.8 billion per year. For 2019 Evonik expects sales and EBITDA at a similar level.
Strategic focus on specialty chemicals
The transaction comprises the Methacrylates, Acrylic Products and CyPlus business lines, and some of the methacrylate resins activities. Evonik put these operations on the market as part of its systematic strategy of sharpening its focus on specialty chemicals, which are less cyclical. Private equity company Advent International is one of the most experienced financial investors in the chemical industry in the world, with more than 30 investments over three decades.
Investment in aquisitions and new production facilities
The net purchase price (equity value) can be calculated after deductions, made up primarily of pension obligations of around EUR 500 million. Evonik will use the sale proceeds to strengthen its balance sheet and, above all, for targeted growth projects. That includes funding the purchase price of the US company PeroxyChem, which Evonik plans to close this year. In addition, some funds will be used to strengthen the present specialty chemicals portfolio, for example, by building a new polyamide 12 plant in Marl, Germany.
