Recently, specialty chemicals company LANXESS completed the acquisition of Emerald Kalama Chemical. The US-based company is the world's leading manufacturer of specialty chemicals. LANXESS signed the purchase agreement on February 14, 2021, and has received all necessary regulatory approvals. LANXESS has funded the purchase price of approximately US$1.04 billion (6.72 billion) from working capital.

 

　　 In 2020, Emerald Kalama Chemical’s global sales are approximately 425 million U.S. dollars (375 million euros), with EBITDA pre-exceptions Approximately 90 million U.S. dollars (80 million euros). 75% of sales come from the specialty products business in the consumer care market, especially flavor and fragrance products, as well as preservatives used in food, household products and cosmetics. A quarter of sales come from the specialty chemicals business for industrial applications. After the completion of the transaction, the number of employees of LANXESS increased by about 470 people, and the increase in the three production bases of Kalama/Washington (USA), Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Widnes (UK).

 

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　　The acquisition of strengthens the product portfolio in the plastics, paint and coatings, and adhesive industries

　　The second largest acquisition in LANXESS’s history enabled the company to expand its range of specialty chemicals for industrial applications, especially in the plastics, paint and coatings, and adhesive industries.

　　An important addition to LANXESS’s new product portfolio is the K-Flex series of non-phthalate plasticizers and coalescing agents for adhesives, coatings, sealants, plastics and other applications< /strong>. K-Flex plasticizer can optimize the production process and final product characteristics. They are highly compatible with polar polymers in water-based adhesive systems and improve film-forming properties in paints and coatings. In the manufacturing process of PVC products, the fast gelling dibenzoate helps to speed up the processing speed.

　　“The new product expands LANXESS’s existing product range and provides growth opportunities in the non-phthalate plasticizer field that meets the most modern requirements of the plastics processing industry.”Global polymer additives business Dr. Thomas Facklam, Head of Application Technology, emphasized.

　　Other important additions to the overall product portfolio for industrial applications include Kalama Vitroflex plasticizers and Modulast modifiers used in the manufacture of polysulfide sealants, which were developed for reactive polyurethane systems.

　　Finally, benzoic acid, benzaldehyde and benzoate are supplements to LANXESS’s future products. They are used as intermediates, structural units and additives in many industrial applications, such as for the production of esters, alkyd resins or corrosion inhibitors.

 

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　　LANXESS (LANXESS)

　　LANXESS is the world's leading supplier of specialty chemicals, with total sales of 9.7 billion euros in 2017, approximately 15,500 employees worldwide, and 59 production bases in 33 countries. The core business of LANXESS includes the development, production and sales of chemical intermediate products, additives, specialty chemicals and plastics. LANXESS has been included in the leading sustainability indexes Dow Jones World Sustainability Index (DJSI Global and Europe) and FTSE4Good.

 

 

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　　Emerald Kalama Chemical (Emerald Kalama Chemical)

　　Emerald was established after the spin-off of several Lubrizol specialty chemicals businesses in 2006. It was acquired by an affiliate of private equity firm American Securities in 2014. Since then, Emerald has continued to invest to expand capacity and growth, including the acquisition of Innospec Widnes Ltd in the UK in 2015, its plant in Rotterdam, and the launch of several new product lines.

　　Emerald is a global leader in specialty chemicals, including aromatic chemicals, benzoic acid and benzaldehyde. Its products include food preservatives, household and cosmetic applications, flavors and fragrances, and industrial plastics and adhesives Agent. Emerald Kalama operates production facilities in the United States and the Netherlands and has approximately 500 employees.