July 2006
July 28th, 2006
H. Ö. Sabancı Holding’s subsidiary ADVANSA BV (ADVANSA) chaired by Engin Tuncay and La Seda de Barcelona, S.A. (LSB) chaired by Rafael Espanol have signed today a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement which will result in the acquisition by LSB of the PET, PTA and Preform businesses currently operating in the UK, Turkey and Romania within ADVANSA. Completion is subject to necessary regulatory approvals and is expected to take place by 1st October 2006.
According to Wahid Tawfik, CEO of ADVANSA “This undertaking will give the fibres and specialty polymer businesses of ADVANSA an excellent strategic opportunity to consolidate its leadership position in the European target market and to remain successful in a very competitive global market”.
According Engin Tuncay, chairman of ADVANSA and President of Chemical SBUs and Foreign Trade Companies of Sabanci Holding, “The polyester market is a highly competitive, fast changing, dynamic world in which leading companies have to adapt their strategy permanently. With the sale of its PET activities, ADVANSA will gain more flexibility to support the fibres and specialty polymer businesses, which will result in growing and strengthening ADVANSA's leadership position in the Greater European markets”
ADVANSA as fibres and specialty polymers businesses maintains all existing rights and use of the fibres and specialty polymers related brands (such as Dacron®, Coolmax®, Comforel®) and technologies. Focusing on the specific dynamic of the fibres and specialty polymers markets, ADVANSA will be able to accelerate the speed of development and commercializing of high value, innovative products and concepts.
In this transaction ADVANSA has been advised by ABN Amro and LSB has been advised by Espirito Santo Investment.
New Coolmax® Fabrics Launches at the ISPO Trade Fair
Coolmax®: Clean
ADVANSA’s revolutionary Stain Release Technology is designed especially to complement the performance of Coolmax® by offering dual stain release and moisture management functionality. The fibre surface modification by nano-technology allows excellent moisture evaporation while improving stain release and providing excellent softness. For years sportswear companies have been looking for fabrics which could combine outstanding wash-out of dirt and grass stains while fulfilling the moisture management requirements of the sportswear market. Coolmax®: Clean provides the answer.
Coolmax®: Selective functionality with SRT Nanotechnology
Coolmax® Selective functionality is the latest development in technology: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic properties do not usually combine well together, but through Selective functionality they are no longer mutually excluding properties.
The process of fibre surface modification has been developed especially for Coolmax®: the outside of the fabric has water and oil repellency, whilst inside it has the moisture management of Coolmax® guaranteeing the comfort and well being of the consumer. Jordi Lopez states:“ It is the most amazing development seen, combining properties that until now were unthinkable to combine. This is ideal for outdoor activities, since the water repellence will not allow water to go through the garment, but on the other side, the interior of the fabric will keep the wearer dry and thermo-regulated through the moisture management and evaporative cooling of Coolmax®”
Coolmax®: Microfibre technology
At ISPO ADVANSA will also be showing exciting new developments of Coolmax® microfibre combined with Elastane.
A process has been developed by ADVANSA for combining Coolmax® micro polyester with elastane, which gives excellent stretch and colour fastness.
This new development completes the wide range of yarn counts existing for Coolmax® consolidating its strength as the leading brand providing thermoregulation through evaporative cooling.
For the first time, extreme softness and functionality will be combined in one yarn. ADVANSA’s engineers have responded to the consumer’s demand for a special touch with the addition of function. Jordi Lopez, ADVANSA’s Market Manager for Sports Wear, said: “ The combination of the extremely soft touch of microfibre with the performance benefits of Coolmax® polyester and elastane is a breakthrough for the market, that will raise the interest of leading brands searching for the latest innovation in performance and softness.”
Coolmax®: UPF
With the number of skin cancer cases on the rise and growing awareness among consumers about the sun’s harmful effects, ADVANSA is now offering a new ultraviolet (UV) protection rating system to all manufacturers currently using certified CoolMax performance fabrics.
The unique multi-channel fibres give superior UV protection through their ability to effectively disperse and absorb UV rays, therefore the program is designed to combine the superior moisture management benefits of Coolmax with varying degrees of solar protection. Manufacturers now have the option to have their fabrics tested for UV protection and based on the results, the approved fabrics will be given one of three Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) ratings – UPF 15+ for Good Protection, UPF 25+ for Very Good Protection and UPF 40+ for Excellent Protection.
Dacron Colour Fast
Dacron® Colourfast is a new family of polyester fibres from ADVANSA based on a specially modified copolymer of polyester. This means that in addition to normal disperse dyeing, fibres can also be dyed at low temperature with cationic dyestuffs.
The potential for low temperature dyeing with Dacron® Colourfast gives better protection for elastane when dyeing stretch fabrics as well as excellent colour fastness (up to level 5), even for dark and fluorescent colours
The use of cationic dyestuffs means that Dacron® Colourfast can be dyed to achieve deeper, more intense shades than is possible with normal polyester disperse dyes. What’s more, unique design effects ranging from iridescent fabrics to checks or stripes can be achieved by cross-dyeing with standard polyester or other fibres.
For further information please contact:
Gerard Illeras
ADVANSA
Av. Diagonal 389, 4ª pl. 08008 Barcelona
P: +34 93 292 38 30 – F: +34 93 292 38 41
E: Gerard.illeras@advansa.com
About ADVANSA
Operating in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, ADVANSA – owned 100% by the Haci Omer Sabanci Holding A.S. - is the largest manufacturer of Polyester Resins, Intermediates, Filament and Fibres in the region. ADVANSA has annual revenues of € 800 million. The company employs 3,250 employees and operates factories in the UK, Turkey and Germany. The headquarters are located in the Netherlands, with sales offices in the UK, Turkey, Germany, Spain, Italy and France.
www.advansa.com
Sabanci Holding is one of Turkey's largest industrial groups. Employing over 35,000 people in 66 companies, it has interests in chemicals and fibres, as well as banking and insurance, food, retail, textiles, energy, cement, automotive, tyres and tyre reinforcement materials, telecommunications, paper and packaging materials. The companies operate in about a dozen foreign countries and export products world-wide. Sabanci Holding, which has controlling interests in 12 companies listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange, has an aggressive strategy of growth through acquisitions and expansion of existing businesses.
Coolmax®
Coolmax® is a high-performance fabric susceptible to improving comfort and freshness of people who wear it. ADVANSA, Europe’s leading polyester company, has the exclusive brand rights for Coolmax® in Europe, which is made from special ADVANSA polyester fibres, engineered with a 4- or 6-channel section, Coolmax® helps move sweat away from the body towards the exterior of the fabric, where it evaporates quickly. In performance tests, garments made with Coolmax® absorbed ten times less moisture and dried twice as quickly as cotton.
Thermolite®
The Thermolite® fibre was conceived to recreate the characteristics of polar bear fur. Nature blessed them with an extraordinary coat, made in part of hollow hairs with insulating multiple air pockets to protect them from extreme weather conditions. Thermolite® fabrics are designed using high-insulation hollow fibres which allow air circulation and vehicles quickly moisture away for more warmth and comfort. As such, these fibres are ideal in outdoor textile applications.
