Huntsman Corporation today announced that it has completed the purchase of Demilec, one of North America’s leading manufacturers and distributors of spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation systems. Huntsman acquired the business from an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners, Inc., for $350 million, subject to customary working capital adjustments, in an all-cash transaction which was funded from available liquidity.
The acquisition of Demilec is aligned with Huntsman’s stated strategy to grow its downstream polyurethanes business and leverage its global platform to expand Demilec’s portfolio of SPF formulations into international markets. The acquisition will generate substantial synergies as a result of Huntsman’s ability to pull through significant volumes of lower margin upstream polymeric MDI into the higher margin and growing specialized SPF systems.
Demilec has annual revenues of approximately $170 million and two manufacturing facilities located in Arlington, Texas and Boisbriand, Quebec where it produces a full suite of MDI based SPF formulations which it markets directly to applicators as well as through distributors. Demilec specializes in both closed cell and open cell formulations, with a focus on products with renewable and recyclable content that are eco-friendly, bio-preferred and reduce energy consumption through highly efficient insulation properties.
Peter Huntsman, Chairman, President and CEO commented on the acquisition: “This is a great fit for our downstream growth strategy. We are excited to have Demilec become part of our growing Polyurethanes business. We expect to integrate the business fully by the end of this year when we expect to enjoy integrated SPF EBITDA margins greater than 25%.”
Tony Hankins, President of Huntsman’s Polyurethanes division, added: “Our approach to integration will ensure that the Demilec team remains focused on meeting the needs of their customers while benefiting from access to Huntsman’s raw material supply, innovation capabilities and established global network.”
Source: Huntsman
France has launched an offshore green hydrogen production platform at the country’s Port of Saint-Nazaire this week, along with its first offshore wind farm. The hydrogen plant, which its operators say is the world’s first facility of its type, coincides with the launch of another “first of its kind” facility in Sweden dedicated to storing hydrogen in an underground lined rock cavern (LRC).
The project sets up the Hydrogen Valley in Rome, the first industrial-scale technological hub for the development of the national supply chain for the production, transport, storage and use of hydrogen for the decarbonization of industrial processes and for sustainable mobility.
At first glance, hydrogen seems to be the perfect solution to our energy needs. It doesn’t produce any carbon dioxide when used. It can store energy for long periods of time. It doesn’t leave behind hazardous waste materials, like nuclear does. And it doesn’t require large swathes of land to be flooded, like hydroelectricity. Seems too good to be true. So…what’s the catch?
