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[December 2006]
Bayer to Sell H.C. Starck to Advent International and The Carlyle Group
The Bayer Group (Leverkusen, Germany) plans to sell its subsidiary H.C. Starck to a consortium formed by financial investors Advent International and The Carlyle Group for approximately €1.2 billion. As planned, the proceeds will help to finance the acquisition of Schering. Commenting on the transaction, Bayer Management Board Chairman Werner Wenning said: "We are convinced that H.C. Starck will have very good development prospects under the new owners".
The transaction value comprises a cash component of more than €700 million and the assumption of financial liabilities and personnel-related commitments totalling some €450 million. The divestment thus reduces Bayer’s net debt by about €1 billion, with an accounting gain of about €150 million. Closing is planned to take place at the beginning of 2007, subject to the approval of the antitrust authorities.
Advent and Carlyle intend to continue developing the H.C. Starck business, with the aim of positioning the company for an initial public offering in three to five years. Gregor Böhm, Carlyle Managing Director in Munich, said: "We’re delighted to be investing in such a first-class company. H.C. Starck is an extremely innovative and highly specialized enterprise with excellent positions in its various markets. We look forward to working with the entire team to help grow H.C. Starck for the benefit of the company and its employees".
Ralf Huep, General Manager at Advent International in Frankfurt, commented: "H.C. Starck is a highly attractive investment. It not only holds leadership positions in its markets, but also has enormous growth potential, both in existing and prospective new business areas. We will work closely with management and Carlyle to leverage these strengths and continue the successful development of H.C. Starck’s business".
Bayer conducted the sale of H.C. Starck as an auction process. Several of the many prospective acquirers were invited to examine the company in detail and submit a binding offer. Both strategic and financial investors participated in the bidding through the final stage.
H.C. Starck, headquartered in Goslar in northern Germany, manufactures metal and ceramic powders, speciality chemicals and parts made from advanced ceramics and refractory metals. The company employs some 3,400 people and last year posted sales of €920 million. H.C. Starck has 15 sites in Europe, Asia and North America.
"Advent and Carlyle are ideal partners for our future expansion," explained H.C. Starck Managing Director Dr Heinz Heumüller. "With their support we will continue to pursue our corporate strategy and business objectives and work to further improve performance."
Bayer announced in March 2006 that it would divest its subsidiaries H.C. Starck and Wolff Walsrode and use the proceeds to partly finance the Schering acquisition. The two companies have so far been part of the Bayer MaterialScience subgroup, which will focus in future on its core businesses.
ENDS