Stepan Company Executes Agreement to Acquire U.S. Surfactants Producer

Rhea-AI Summary

Stepan Company (NYSE: SCL) announced an agreement to acquire the surfactant business of PerformanX Specialty Chemicals, enhancing its product line and market diversification. This strategic acquisition is projected to add approximately $20 million to annual revenue and improve Stepan's EBITDA margin. The deal, pending closing conditions, is expected to finalize in Q3 2022. Additionally, Stepan is set to enhance its alkoxylation capacity in Pasadena, Texas, with a $245 million investment, slated to start operations in early 2024, addressing rising global demand.

Positive

• Acquisition expected to generate approximately $20 million in annual revenue.
• Strategic fit enhances market diversification in the surfactants business.
• Investment in new alkoxylation plant aims to increase production capacity by 75,000 metric tons per year.

Negative

• None.

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stepan Company (NYSE: SCL), announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the surfactant business and associated assets of PerformanX Specialty Chemicals, LLC. The acquisition will include intellectual property, commercial relationships, and inventory. The definitive agreement is subject to normal closing conditions and the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2022.                                                                                                                                                  

"PerformanX is a strong strategic fit within Stepan's Surfactants business and provides attractive market diversification opportunities for our alkoxylation product line," said Scott R. Behrens, President and Chief Executive Officer of Stepan Company. "The acquisition of PerformanX's business should increase annual revenue by approximately $20 million and be accretive to Stepan's EBITDA margin. We look forward to welcoming PerformanX's customers to Stepan by continuing to provide the same high level of quality and service to which they have been accustomed."

In 2021 Stepan Company announced plans to build and operate a new alkoxylation plant at its existing Pasadena, Texas facility. Alkoxylates are a core surfactant technology critical to the agricultural, oilfield, construction, pulp and paper, lubricant and household end use markets. Stepan's $245 million investment is expected to provide flexible capacity of 75,000 metric tons per year, capable of both ethoxylation and propoxylation, and positions the Company to serve the growing global demand of our Surfactant and Polymer businesses. The new alkoxylation capacity in Pasadena, Texas is expected to come online in early 2024.

Corporate Profile

Stepan Company is a major manufacturer of specialty and intermediate chemicals used in a broad range of industries. Stepan is a leading merchant producer of surfactants, which are the key ingredients in consumer and industrial cleaning and disinfection products and in agricultural and oilfield solutions. The Company is also a leading supplier of polyurethane polyols used in the expanding thermal insulation market, and CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, and Elastomers) industries.

Headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, Stepan utilizes a network of modern production facilities located in North and South America, Europe and Asia.

The Company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol SCL. For more information about Stepan Company please visit the Company online at www.stepan.com.

More information about Stepan's sustainability program can be found on the Sustainability page at www.stepan.com. Contact: Luis E. Rojo 847-446-7500

Certain information in this news release consists of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include statements about Stepan Company's plans, objectives, strategies, financial performance and outlook, trends, the amount and timing of future cash distributions, prospects or future events and involve known and unknown risks that are difficult to predict. As a result, Stepan Company's actual financial results, performance, achievements or prospects may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "guidance," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "will," "would," "should," "illustrative" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Stepan Company and its management based on their knowledge and understanding of the business and industry, are inherently uncertain. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and stockholders should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond Stepan Company's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among other factors, the risks, uncertainties and factors described in Stepan Company's Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports and exhibits to those reports, and include (but are not limited to) risks and uncertainties related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; accidents, unplanned production shutdowns or disruptions in manufacturing facilities; reduced demand due to customer product reformulations or new technologies; our inability to successfully develop or introduce new products; compliance with laws; our ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates and successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; global competition; volatility of raw material and energy costs and supply; disruptions in transportation or significant changes in transportation costs; downturns in certain industries and general economic downturns; international business risks, including currency exchange rate fluctuations, legal restrictions and taxes; unfavorable resolution of litigation against us; maintaining and protecting intellectual property rights; our ability to access capital markets; global political, military, security or other instability; costs related to expansion or other capital projects; interruption or breaches of information technology systems; our ability to retain executive management and key personnel; and our debt covenants.

These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and Stepan Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Stepan Company

FAQ

What is the expected revenue increase from the PerformanX acquisition for Stepan Company (SCL)?

The acquisition is expected to generate approximately $20 million in annual revenue for Stepan Company.

When is the acquisition of PerformanX Specialty Chemicals expected to close?

The acquisition is anticipated to close in the third quarter of 2022.

How will the PerformanX acquisition impact Stepan Company's EBITDA margin?

The acquisition is expected to be accretive to Stepan Company's EBITDA margin.

What are the plans for Stepan's new alkoxylation plant in Pasadena, Texas?

The new alkoxylation plant in Pasadena, Texas, is expected to come online in early 2024, with a production capacity of 75,000 metric tons per year.