PR87463

HOUSTON, Jan. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

-- Acquisition will expand Ascend's flame-retardant portfolio and European footprint

Ascend Performance Materials has purchased Eurostar Engineering Plastics, a

France-based compounder with a broad portfolio of flame-retardant engineered

plastics and expertise in halogen-free formulations.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1394381/Ascend_Eurostar_acquisition.jpg

"Eurostar's experience in compounded polyamides fits well within our own

portfolio and manufacturing capabilities," said John Saunders, Ascend's vice

president for Europe. "Their Starflam(R) materials are enabling the transitions

to clean energy and transportation, and smarter devices."

Last year, Ascend acquired the Italian firms Poliblend and Esseti Plast, as

well as a compounding facility in China.

"We are following through on our strategy of becoming a more global,

diversified and reliable supplier to our customers," said Phil McDivitt,

Ascend's president and CEO. "While the past 10 months have been challenging, we

have remained focused on providing our customers with the solutions and support

they need to continue growing."

Ascend, the world's largest fully integrated producer of polyamide 66 resin,

gains a full portfolio of UL yellow card certified flame-retardant, as well as

water contact and thermally conductive, engineered plastics with the purchase.

The company has said these materials will play an integral role in e-mobility,

as well as in smart appliances, industrial automation and consumer electronics.

"Combining our portfolio and application development expertise with Eurostar's

portfolio immediately provides our customers with a bigger toolchest to produce

safer, more reliable parts at higher and more constant voltage loads," said

Steve Manning, Ascend's senior director for engineered plastics. "Across

sectors we are seeing increased demand for higher performance materials and

Eurostar's portfolio already meets not only today's technical specifications,

but also many of tomorrow's."

Neither company disclosed the cost of the purchase.

About Ascend Performance Materials

Ascend Performance Materials makes high-performance materials for everyday

essentials and new technologies. Our focus is on improving quality of life and

inspiring a better tomorrow through innovation. Based in Houston, Texas, and

with regional offices in Shanghai, Brussels and Detroit, we are a fully

integrated material solutions provider with nine global manufacturing

facilities in the United States, Europe and China. Our 2,600-person global

workforce makes the plastics, fabrics, fibers and chemicals used to make safer

vehicles, cleaner energy, better medical devices, smarter appliances and

longer-lasting apparel and consumer goods. We are committed to safety,

sustainability and the success of our customers and our communities.

Find out more about Ascend at www.ascendmaterials.com.

Contact: Alison Jahn, +1 713-210-9809, ajahn@ascendmaterials.com

SOURCE Ascend Performance Materials