Synthos advances acquisition of Trinseo rubber business 

O?wi?cim, Poland – The European Commission has approved the €400-million acquisition of Trinseo’s rubber business by Polish materials supplier Synthos Sa. 

In a statement 22 Oct, Synthos said it had received the greenlight from European Commission to finalise the takeover, which includes the purchasing synthetic rubbers production plants located in Schkopau, Germany. 

The purchase, announced earlier in May, covers Trinseo’s manufacturing and research and development facilities, and enables access to new higher-margin markets, said the Synthos announcement. 

Moreover, the transaction expands the company’s geographic footprint, including in Asia, and offers “significant synergies” between the two businesses.

“We believe that the synthetic rubber business brings a range of technologically advanced SSBRs (solution styrene butadiene rubber), including functionalised SSBR grades used for high-performance tires,” said Zbigniew Warmuz, CEO of Synthos.

The acquisition, he added, fits into the company’s strategy of continuous product portfolio expansion.

“By making the acquisition… we believe that we will even better prepared to take advantage of global megatrends, including the green mobility revolution, circularity and the control of CO2 emissions,” Warmuz added.

Trinseo’s SR business employs around 440 people, who are expected to join Synthos once the transaction closes. 

Synthos estimates that the Schkopau plant will bring in annual earnings (EBITDA) of at least €50-60 million. In addition, it expects synergies of over €20 million from the transaction.

Trinseo’s SR business manufactures solution SSBR and emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (ESBR) at its manufacturing hub in Schkopau. Official production capacity for SSBR is 200 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) and 130 ktpa for ESBR.

The unit reported earnings (adjusted EBITDA) of $41 million (€36 million) on sales of $441 million in 2019.

Based in O?wi?cim, Poland, Synthos manufactures SSBR, ESBR, nitrile butadiene rubber, high-styrene rubber and butadiene rubber.

In addition to rubber, the Polish company also produces polystyrene, adhesives, vinyl acetate-based dispersions, acrylic copolymers and styrene-acrylic polymers.