Wedoany.com Report on Mar 10th, Amidst pressure in the global chemical market, Munich-based private equity firm AEQUITA completed two significant acquisitions within a year, involving over 6 million tons of European olefin and polyolefin capacity. This move has drawn industry attention and is seen as either a potential investment in or a risky play on the recovery of the European chemical industry. Analysts suggest that if AEQUITA can effectively integrate these assets and optimize operations, it could pave a new path for the European chemical sector.

AEQUITA's strategy began in June 2025 with exclusive negotiations to acquire LyondellBasell's European chemical assets. During the Q3 2025 earnings conference call, AEQUITA confirmed signing an agreement to take over LyondellBasell's 2.9 million-ton capacity, with the transaction expected to close in the first half of 2026. In January this year, the company announced the acquisition of SABIC's European petrochemical business, with an enterprise valuation of $500 million, including 2.3 million tons of polyolefin and 1.1 million tons of olefin capacity, expected to be completed in Q4 2026. Upon completion, AEQUITA will become Europe's largest polyolefin producer with 4.6 million tons of capacity, and the fourth-largest ethylene producer in Europe with 1.6 million tons of capacity. Its assets span the UK, Germany, France, Spain, and the Netherlands, with seven major production bases.

AEQUITA has designed a risk control mechanism. The transaction with SABIC employs a seller financing arrangement, where the acquisition funds are provided via seller notes, repayable only if the business performs strongly or is successfully resold. This reduces AEQUITA's financial risk, allowing it to lock in assets at low cost during a market downturn. During a transformative period for the global chemical market, this model provides a reference case for the industry.