Press Release
IVL to Acquire Wellman International's Recycling and Fiber Business
Move into European recycling to boost sustainable growth
Bangkok, Thailand - 21 September 2011 - Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, the world's leading vertically integrated Polyester Value Chain producer, has signed an agreement to acquire Wellman International's recycling business in Europe from AURELIUS AG, to pursue customers' sustainability needs and meet the demands of consumers for more recycling of post consumer products.
The Company's Board of Directors approved a management proposal to acquire from AURELIUS AG the businesses of Wellman International Limited and its related company, MJR Recycling BV as this will be strategically in line with the Company's objectives of long-term sustainability and an overall lowering of the Company's impact on the environment globally.
The acquisition is expected to be completed within 2011, subject to necessary regulatory approvals, and will provide access to proven recycling technology and the potential for a technology transfer to the Company's Asian assets with a reduced learning curve.
"This is a very exciting project for us," said Group CEO Mr. Aloke Lohia. "The target acquisition has the know-how to blend recycled PET (rPET) and industrial waste and will potentially contribute to make Indorama Ventures a ‘zero waste' company with a low carbon footprint able to serve both the beverage and fiber segments of our customer base."
Wellman International is Europe's largest recycler of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles as well as a leading European producer of polyester staple fibre products and rPET. It enjoys a unique position in that Europe's market environment highly values recycled and green products. It is a pioneer in recycling and most reputed bottle-to-bottle and bottle-to-fiber recycler with its own unique technology, capable of producing very high quality materials, such as for the hygiene sector.
Wellman International has three production facilities in Europe with over 153,000 tons of output each year: a polyester fiber plant based in Mullagh, the Republic of Ireland and recycling plants at Spijk in the Netherlands and Verdun in France. The plant in Ireland is capable of converting waste polyester into 100% recycled fiber. Post Recycled Bottles (PCB) are flaked and processed with other waste material to produce bottles and fibers that can be used in a variety of premium applications.
"The project will act as a springboard to launch IVL into rPET following our ongoing construction of recycling plants in Decatur, USA and Rayong, Thailand," Lohia said. "As this is the largest recycling capacity in the whole of Europe we will have both economies of scale and lower production costs to serve our customers in both the bottle and fiber segments. We will be able to meet our customer expectations to assist them achieve their sustainability goals effectively throughout the continent. With a comprehensive European network for bottle sourcing and good supply chain efficiencies, we feel that it will contribute as an attractive platform for strong future growth in the sustainable recycling business with the potential to expand this business further around the world."
About Aurelius
AURELIUS AG is an industrial holding with a long-term investment horizon focusing on the acquisition of companies with potential for development. AURELIUS has some longstanding investment and management experience in various industries. By applying management capacities and the necessary funding for investments in innovative products, distribution and research AURELIUS constantly advances its portfolio companies. With offices in Munich and London as well as portfolio companies in Germany, England, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Switzerland, AURELIUS operates throughout Europe. The shares of AURELIUS AG are traded on the open market of the Frankfurt stock exchange (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8). For more information, please visit http://www.aureliusinvest.com.
About Wellman International Limited
Wellman International is Europe's leading producer of high quality polyester staple fibers. It manufactures high quality polyester products from recycled post consumer PET bottles. The company is Europe's largest PET recycler, processing 1.6 billion post consumer PET bottles annually. It also leads the industry in the development of new fiber technologies. Wellman International offers premium products which deliver efficient throughputs. The company has 40 years of expertise across a diverse range of markets with guaranteed service provision and technical support. It has a dedicated research and development function driving innovation.
Bangkok, Thailand - 21 September 2011 - Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, the world's leading vertically integrated Polyester Value Chain producer, has signed an agreement to acquire Wellman International's recycling business in Europe from AURELIUS AG, to pursue customers' sustainability needs and meet the demands of consumers for more recycling of post consumer products.
The Company's Board of Directors approved a management proposal to acquire from AURELIUS AG the businesses of Wellman International Limited and its related company, MJR Recycling BV as this will be strategically in line with the Company's objectives of long-term sustainability and an overall lowering of the Company's impact on the environment globally.
The acquisition is expected to be completed within 2011, subject to necessary regulatory approvals, and will provide access to proven recycling technology and the potential for a technology transfer to the Company's Asian assets with a reduced learning curve.
"This is a very exciting project for us," said Group CEO Mr. Aloke Lohia. "The target acquisition has the know-how to blend recycled PET (rPET) and industrial waste and will potentially contribute to make Indorama Ventures a ‘zero waste' company with a low carbon footprint able to serve both the beverage and fiber segments of our customer base."
Wellman International is Europe's largest recycler of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles as well as a leading European producer of polyester staple fibre products and rPET. It enjoys a unique position in that Europe's market environment highly values recycled and green products. It is a pioneer in recycling and most reputed bottle-to-bottle and bottle-to-fiber recycler with its own unique technology, capable of producing very high quality materials, such as for the hygiene sector.
Wellman International has three production facilities in Europe with over 153,000 tons of output each year: a polyester fiber plant based in Mullagh, the Republic of Ireland and recycling plants at Spijk in the Netherlands and Verdun in France. The plant in Ireland is capable of converting waste polyester into 100% recycled fiber. Post Recycled Bottles (PCB) are flaked and processed with other waste material to produce bottles and fibers that can be used in a variety of premium applications.
"The project will act as a springboard to launch IVL into rPET following our ongoing construction of recycling plants in Decatur, USA and Rayong, Thailand," Lohia said. "As this is the largest recycling capacity in the whole of Europe we will have both economies of scale and lower production costs to serve our customers in both the bottle and fiber segments. We will be able to meet our customer expectations to assist them achieve their sustainability goals effectively throughout the continent. With a comprehensive European network for bottle sourcing and good supply chain efficiencies, we feel that it will contribute as an attractive platform for strong future growth in the sustainable recycling business with the potential to expand this business further around the world."
About Aurelius
AURELIUS AG is an industrial holding with a long-term investment horizon focusing on the acquisition of companies with potential for development. AURELIUS has some longstanding investment and management experience in various industries. By applying management capacities and the necessary funding for investments in innovative products, distribution and research AURELIUS constantly advances its portfolio companies. With offices in Munich and London as well as portfolio companies in Germany, England, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Switzerland, AURELIUS operates throughout Europe. The shares of AURELIUS AG are traded on the open market of the Frankfurt stock exchange (ISIN: DE000A0JK2A8). For more information, please visit http://www.aureliusinvest.com.
About Wellman International Limited
Wellman International is Europe's leading producer of high quality polyester staple fibers. It manufactures high quality polyester products from recycled post consumer PET bottles. The company is Europe's largest PET recycler, processing 1.6 billion post consumer PET bottles annually. It also leads the industry in the development of new fiber technologies. Wellman International offers premium products which deliver efficient throughputs. The company has 40 years of expertise across a diverse range of markets with guaranteed service provision and technical support. It has a dedicated research and development function driving innovation.