MIDLAND, Mich. (Feb. 25, 2008) — Dow Chemical Co. has placed its synthetic rubber business into a newly created business group of operations that could be subject to divestiture.
The firm said it put the SR business, its Saran products, specialty films, polycarbonate, compounds and blends and specialty copolymers into the new Dow Portfolio Optimization group.
Each business within the group has been earmarked for strategic evaluation, with the goal of defining how best to maximize its long-term value to the company, according to Dow Chemical. That could include realignment to other Dow businesses, joint ventures or divestitures, the firm said.
George Biltz, who currently heads the company's Specialty Plastics and Elastomers operation, has been appointed business group president of the new group.
Dow Chemical expects to align other businesses to the group as they are assessed for strategic alignment with the firm's transformational strategy, the company said.
The company is a global producer of styrene-butadiene and polybutadiene rubber, and polyurethanes.