Evonik Industries AG: Evonik Industries AG announces divestment of methacrylates business

Essen, 6 March 2018. The Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG has resolved today to evaluate all options for the future development of the methacrylates business. These options include potential partnerships and complete divestment.

The Group is therefore taking the next step in the ongoing development of its portfolio. Evonik is systematically implementing its strategy of sharpening its focus on specialty chemicals and is concentrating on its four defined growth engines. In this way Evonik is aiming for a more balanced portfolio to ensure optimal allocation of its resources. Its growth engines are health & care, smart materials, specialty additives, and animal nutrition. They have above-average growth and low cyclical exposure. The methacrylates business, which is part of the Performance Materials segment, is outside Evonik's defined growth areas.

The methacrylates business comprises high-volume monomers such as MMA, various specialty monomers as well as the PLEXIGLAS(R) brand of PMMA molding compounds and semi-finished products. These products are manufactured at various locations in Germany, North America and Asia.

In business year 2017 Evonik generated around 40 percent of the sales of the Performance Materials segment with its methacrylates business.
 

Contact/person making the notification:
Tim Lange
Head of Investor Relations
+49 201 177-3150
tim.lange@evonik.com