LEVERKUSEN, Germany—Covestro A.G. will sell its European Systems House business to the U.S. private equity and alternative assets investment firm HIG Capital in a move to streamline its business.
The system houses are part of Covestro's polyurethanes segment and offer tailor-made polyurethanes systems for customers. The European Systems Houses business has facilities in the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Germany and Italy.
The business has approximately 250 employees and generates annual sales of $258.5 million.
Proceeds for the sale will be in "high-double-digit euro million range," according to a June 17 statement by Covestro. The company expects to close the deal in the second half of the year.
Chief Financial Officer Thomas Toepfer said the move was part of the company's portfolio optimization with focus on future growth and value creation.
"Providing tailor-made solutions, systems houses serve relevant market needs," Toepfer said. "However, in an advanced polyurethanes market like Europe, we focus on a more centralized approach to efficiently address the needs of our customers."
Covestro will continue to have strong ties with the systems houses as a key polyurethane supplier.
Under the new ownership, Covestro expects the business unit to have the perspective to position itself as an independent, focused player for mid-sized customers.
With focus on small and mid-sized businesses, HIG says it has a buy-and-build approach towards its investments.
The company, according to Covestro, intends to further develop its pan-European presence and to build a strong and independent European group of polyurethane systems houses.
The current management team will continue to run the business after the sale.