Celanese Acquires Nouryon’s Elotex Dedispersible Polymer Powders Business

Celanese Corporation and Nouryon signed an agreement for Celanese to acquire Nouryon’s re-dispersible polymer powders business offered under the Elotex brand.

As part of the acquisition, Celanese will acquire all of Nouryon’s global production facilities for re-dispersible polymer powders across Europe and Asia, all products under the Elotex portfolio, as well as all customer agreements, technology and commercial facilities globally.

“By acquiring Elotex, Celanese will have direct access to relatively fast-growing applications and a customer base that is complementary to our emulsions business. The acquisition offers additional flexibility and downstream growth optionality through derivatization, both of which are vital to unlocking value under our unique global acetyl chain business model,” said Todd Elliott, senior VP, Acetyls. “With this acquisition, Celanese will extend its global leadership position in the VAE emulsions space and continue to support our customers in the construction and building materials, where Celanese is already focusing significant product, solution and customer development efforts.”

Elotex is a manufacturer of re-dispersible polymer powders for the following product applications:

• Self-leveling flooring and wall texturing smoothing/painting;
• Exterior thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) which provide exterior walls with an insulated and waterproof surface, applied as a topcoat by trowel or spraying;
• Cement tile adhesives and grouts for floor and wall tiles, mosaic and flat natural stone on dimensionally stable subfloors;
• Gypsum plaster and joint fillers, polymer binding systems, and cement and time-based renders

Celanese expects to integrate Elotex’s re-dispersible polymer powder product portfolio and production facilities into its global acetyl chain to further meet global product demand. Elotex has production facilities in Europe and China that include Frankfurt, Germany; Geleen, Netherlands; Moosleerau, Switzerland; and Shanghai, China. 

Elotex has its global headquarters, R&D and Technical Services functions located in Sempach, Switzerland.

The parties expect to complete the transaction in the second quarter of 2020, subject to customary closing conditions, regulatory approvals and subject to completion of the works council process. Until closing, Celanese and Elotex will continue to operate as independent businesses.