Even before the transaction to take over the Functional Forms unit of Sabic (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; www.sabic.com) could be completed, Röhm (Darmstadt, Germany; www.roehm.com) has founded a new company called Polyvantis. The aim is – probably at the instigation of Röhm owner Advent International (Boston, Massachusetts, USA; www.adventinternational.com) – to combine the sheet, tube, and other semi-finished products made of PMMA and polycarbonate and at the same time seperate the company from Röhm.  

Polyvantis, based in Darmstadt for now, is expected to employ around 1,500 at 16 plants worldwide and generate pro-forma sales of around EUR 640 mn. The company said it plans to conclude long-term licence and supply agreements for moulding compounds and granules with both Röhm and Sabic.   

Related: Röhm's PMMA manufacturing begins at expanded Chinese plant

Both transactions – the spin off of Röhm’s PMMA semi-finished products and the completion of the Sabic acquisition – are expected to be finalised in the second quarter of 2024, subject to all antitrust approvals. As a Röhm spokesperson told Plasteurope.com, the two divisions will operate independently of each other until then. At the same time, Advent manager Ronald Ayles announced that the company is “determined to further accelerate growth”. This points to future expansions and acquisitions.

With its activities in MMA and PMMA, Röhm is number two in the world. In MMA, the company is well behind Mitsubishi with a capacity of over 600,000 t/y, while in PMMA it is only slightly behind ChiMei with a good 280,000 t/y.