Proventis Partners advised Interface Polymers Ltd.

Loughborough, UK, March 23, 2023 – Evonik has invested in Interface Polymers Ltd. through its Sustainability Tech Fund. The company’s Polarfin® additives simplify the processing of plastics blended with polyethylene and polypropylene. The technology makes it possible to recycle such plastics, solving one of the biggest problems in the recycling process.

The transaction

Ross Baglin, CEO of Interface Polymers, said, “We are delighted to have a world-class company like Evonik as an investor and development partner, and we look forward to making polymers the best environmental solution for so many human needs. Our Polarfin® additive technology modifies and improves the properties of the world’s most widely used plastics. It can solve several important environmental problems associated with their use today.”

As a specialty chemicals company, Evonik is working on solutions for the circular economy on many levels. Polyethylene and polypropylene are versatile and widely used plastics due to their light weight and durability. A disadvantage, however, is their poor compatibility with other materials. Until now, costly and time-consuming surface preparation was the only solution. The unique Polarfin® additive technology developed by Interface Polymers eliminates the need for such preparation. It also significantly reduces the amount of additives required. As a result, mixed plastics are easier to recycle.

In addition to the Sustainability Tech Fund investment, Evonik’s Coating Additives Business Line has agreed a comprehensive development partnership with Interface Polymers to use the technology in paints and coatings. Elias Lacerda, head of Evonik’s Coating Additives Business Line, says: “We are impressed by the speed with which Interface Polymers has developed over the past two years. With their help, we aim to reduce or even eliminate intensive surface pretreatment.”

The role of Proventis Partners

Proventis Partners provided corporate finance advice to Interface Polymer Ltd. through its partnership with Chesilton Group (UK) LLP in connection with the investment by Evonik.

The responsible partner at Proventis Partners was Dr. Jan-Philipp (JP) Pfander.

About Interface Polymers Ltd.

Interface Polymers was founded in 2016 to commercialize inventions from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Warwick in Coventry (UK). A core competency of the company is the use of its Polarfin® technology to make the surface of polyolefins compatible with other materials. Diblock copolymers combine polyethylene and polypropylene with polar materials to improve their compatibility with metals, ceramics and other plastics. This offers advantages in recycling mixed plastics, adhesion of paints and adhesives to plastic surfaces, and dispersion of materials in molded plastics. For more information, please visit Interface Polymers Ltd.

About Evonik

Evonik is a global leader in specialty chemicals. The Group operates in more than 100 countries and achieved sales of €18.5 billion and earnings (adjusted EBITDA) of €2.49 billion in 2022. Evonik goes far beyond chemicals to create innovative, value-adding and sustainable solutions for its customers. Around 34,000 employees are united by a common drive: “We want to make life better, day by day.”

About Evonik Venture Capital

With a fund volume of €400 million, Evonik Venture Capital (EVC) has made 50 direct and fund investments since 2012. EVC has representative offices in Germany, the U.S. and China and invests in innovative technologies and disruptive business models in the areas of Nutrition & Care, Specialty Additives and Smart Materials, as well as in technologies that support digital transformation. The investments also support Evonik’s digitalization and sustainability strategy. The scope of the investments ranges from early to growth stage with an investment volume of up to €15 million per portfolio company. For more information, please visit Leading Beyond Chemistry – Evonik Industries.

About Chesilton Group (UK) LLP

Chesilton Group (UK) LLP is an appointed representative of Robert Quinn Advisory LLP, which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Chesilton Group (UK) LLP is registered in England and has its registered office at 26 – 28 Southernhay East, Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom, EX1 1NS.

About Proventis Partners

Proventis Partners is a partner-led M&A advisory firm whose clients are predominantly medium-sized family-owned companies, group subsidiaries as well as private equity funds. With more than 40 M&A advisors, Proventis Partners is one of the largest independent M&A advisory firms in the German-speaking region and looks back on more than 20 years of M&A experience and over 400 completed transactions. With offices in Zurich, Hamburg, Munich and Düsseldorf, the M&A consultants are active in the Industrials, Chemicals&Materials, Business Services, Consumer & Retail, Healthcare and IT & Media sectors. Exclusive membership in the Mergers Alliance – an international partnership of leading M&A specialists – enables Proventis Partners to support clients in 30 countries in key markets worldwide.