Radici acquires Invista unit; strengthens nylon market share

Italian materials firm RadiciGroup Performance Plastics has acquired the engineering polymers business of American company Invista. With this acquisition, RadiciGroup, which makes nylon, PBT, TPE and POM engineering plastics, will be able to further strengthen and expand its presence in both the American and European markets. The closing of the transaction is expected within 60 days and terms were not disclosed.

Radici has already announced its growth strategy that includes acquisitions that could increase its market share in the nylon business. With the acquisition of Engineering Polymer Solutions, RadiciGroup Performance Plastics will be able to significantly increase its production capacity in the US and in Europe, where Invista currently has two production plants (in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Born, the Netherlands, respectively).

It expects to consolidate assets in Chattanooga with its existing manufacturing facilities in North America. Moreover, the group will be in a position to take advantage of and synergistically combine competencies, know-how, technologies and state-of-the-art production facilities. OEM approvals will be valid and usable worldwide in industries such as automotive, electrical/electronics, industrial and consumer goods.

A further value added will be gained from the respective competencies in sales and brand positioning of the brands Invista’s Torzen nylon and Radici’s Radilon PA6, 6.6 and 6.12.

Last year, Radici also acquired the polyamide engineering plastics division of Mexican firm Resinas TB. It has an installed production capacity of 8,000 tonnes/year.

Established in 1981, Radici has production facilities in Italy, Germany Mexico, Brazil, China and India, as well as a global sales network, and 2015 consolidated sales revenue of EUR277 million. With 2,985 employees, sales revenue of EUR1 billion and a network of production and sales sites located in Europe, North America, South America and Asia, RadiciGroup is one of the world’s leading producers of a wide range of chemical intermediates, polyamide polymers, engineering plastics, synthetic fibres and nonwovens. RadiciGroup is part of a larger industrial group that also includes textile machinery, energy and hotel businesses.

Invista is one of the world’s largest integrated producers of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibres. The company’s advantaged technologies for nylon, spandex and polyester are used to produce clothing, carpet, car parts and countless other everyday products. Headquartered in the US, Invista operates in more than 20 countries and has about 10,000 employees.

(PRA)