Evonik Industries AG has completed the activities to acquire the specialty additives business (Performance Materials Division) of the U.S. company Air Products, Inc. for $3.8 billion (approx. €3.5 billion) by the end of the year as planned. The closing is scheduled for January 03, 2017. All relevant antitrust authorities have approved the transaction and the integration of the acquired business is underway. The transaction financing was completed successfully in September and will consist of the company’s own funds in the amount €1.6 billion, with the other half to be financed by bonds with a nominal value of €1.9 billion.

“The successful completion of the acquisition paves the way for swiftly merging the activities of Evonik and the acquired units of the Air Products Performance Materials business,” said Klaus Engel, chairman of the Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG. “It puts Evonik in an excellent position for further profitable growth in the attractive specialty additives market.”

“We are well prepared to ensure a smooth business transition and a successful integration. To this end, we have worked intensively with Air Products over the past few months to develop integration plans,” confirmed Ralph Sven Kaufmann, chief operating officer and Executive Board member responsible for the integration.

The annual synergy effects in the amount of $80 million can be confirmed at this time and should be fully realized by 2020 at the latest. Evonik expects to leverage synergies in the amount of €10 to 20 million in the year 2017.

The acquisition is expected to increase the adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of Evonik in the 2017 business year.

Since the transaction is partly structured as an asset deal, it will lead to tax benefits as a consequence of write-offs which are typical for transactions of this nature. These benefits amount to a net present value of more than $500 million, which can be used on a prorated basis in the 2017 business year.

The Specialty & Coating Additives business of Air Products is the Performance Materials Division within the Materials Technologies Segment of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. It has approximately 1,100 employees at 11 production and development locations and offers local customer support in all key global regions.