Solvay to Acquire Cytec

Solvay has entered into a definitive merger agreement with U.S.-based Cytec to acquire 100 percent of its share capital for $75.25 per share in cash. The total cash consideration will amount to $5.5 billion, corresponding to an enterprise value of $ 6.4 billion.

“The proposed acquisition of Cytec marks a major step change in Solvay’s portfolio upgrade. It is a unique opportunity for Solvay to boost its customer offerings in lightweighting with advanced materials in aerospace and automotive, as well as to strengthen its know-how with activities in mining chemicals,” said Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO of Solvay. “Cytec is a high-growth, high-quality group with leading market positions. We are looking forward to working with its excellent teams. This acquisition will create value for our stakeholders and will support our ambition to become a leader in sustainable chemistry. This transaction will lead us to further accelerate our transformation.”

“We are excited to be joining with Solvay, a leading player in the chemical industry with over 150 years of success. Their strategic focus is perfectly aligned with our businesses, while the technology synergies with their specialty polymers and formulations expertise should accelerate our growth. Our customers and our employees should expect to see continuity and strong support of our current strategy,” said Shane Fleming, CEO of Cytec.

Headquartered in New Jersey with 4,600 employees across the globe, Cytec generated sales of $ 2.0 billion in 2014. It sources almost half of its sales from North America, nearly a third from EMEA and the remainder from Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Cytec is among the world leaders in composite materials and in mining chemicals, recognized by its customers as a consistently successful innovator and provider of high-performance and value-added solutions. In the fast-growing composite materials sector, which represents two thirds of its sales, its principal market is primary and secondary structures for aircrafts. It is also developing new technological applications for composites in automotive. Cytec is the leader in tailored specialty chemical formulations to enhance mining separation processes.

Through the acquisition of Cytec, Solvay will gain critical scale and immediate customer intimacy in aerospace. In the automotive market, Solvay’s strong positions with original equipment manufacturers and tier-one suppliers will help bolster Cytec’s growth.

Moreover, Cytec will significantly reinforce Solvay’s sustainability profile as its offerings are addressing planet’s challenges. With Cytec, Solvay will stand out stronger in reducing CO2 emissions through its lightweighting solutions and in dealing with the increasing scarcity of resources through more efficient and cleaner mining technologies.

Cytec’s composites businesses will be integrated into Solvay’s Advanced Materials operating segment. Its mining chemicals as well as its niche additives and phosphine specialty chemical businesses will become part of Solvay’s Advanced Formulations segment.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2015.