Sarlink business goes to Teknor Apex

ERJ staff report (DS)

Heerlen, The Netherlands -- DSM NV has agreed to sell its Sarlink TPV business to Teknor Apex Company. The intended sale is expected to close in Q4 2010, subject to regulatory and other customary approvals and notifications. Financial details were not disclosed. DSM said it expects to report a small book profit as a result of the transaction upon closing. Approximately 90 employees will transfer to the new owner upon closing.

Sarlink forms a part of the DSM Elastomers business, which was put up for sale in September 2007. DSM has not yet announced a purchaser for the Keltan EPDM business which forms the majority of DSM's Elastomer business.

Sarlink has compounding operations in Leominster (Massachusetts, United States) and Genk (Belgium). While the business unit will operate as an integral part of Teknor Apex, it will continue to sell its TPVs (thermoplastic vulcanisates) under the Sarlink name. In 2009 Sarlink realised net sales of over EUR 50 million.

Bertram Lederer, executive vice president of Teknor Apex said: "Teknor Apex is a good home for the Sarlink group, and the enhanced potential from our combined people and resources will benefit customers. The addition of the Sarlink TPV business strengthens the position of Teknor Apex as the world's most diversified independent compounder of TPEs and expands our portfolio at the high-performance end, particularly for automotive applications."

Teknor Apex is headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and operates manufacturing facilities around the world. It sells in 90 countries. Six of the eight Teknor Apex business units focus on plastics compounding, including bioplastics; colour concentrates; nylon, PET, and other engineering thermoplastics; thermoplastic elastomers; toll and speciality compounds; and vinyl.

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Press release from DSM

www.teknorapex.com/