Thread regarding ExxonMobil Corp. layoffs

ExxonMobil Chemical Company has signed an agreement with Celanese for the sale of its global Santoprene™ business for $1.15 billion

June 30, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Source: Business Wire

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ExxonMobil Chemical Company has signed an agreement with Celanese for the sale of its global Santoprene™ business for $1.15 billion, subject to working capital and other adjustments.

The sale includes two world-scale manufacturing sites in Pensacola, Florida and Newport, Wales along with associated product, process development and laboratory equipment, operating and administration buildings, control systems and documentation, and intellectual property.

“Reaching this agreement with Celanese is consistent with our strategy and allows us to focus on serving the growing market for primary olefin derivatives, where we can leverage our competitive advantages of industry leading scale, integration and proprietary technology,” said Jack Williams, senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

ExxonMobil’s Santoprene™ brand is a global leader in a specialized market. The company will continue to serve elastomers customers with specialty products, including Butyl rubber and Vistalon™, which are used in a variety of applications.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to regulatory, information and consultation processes, and third-party approvals.

The ExxonMobil employees impacted by the sale are expected to transfer to positions at Celanese following change-in-control.

“Reaching this agreement with Celanese is consistent with our strategy and allows us to focus on serving the growing market for primary olefin derivatives, where we can leverage our competitive advantages of industry leading scale, integration and proprietary technology”

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as financial advisor to ExxonMobil Chemical Company.

by
| 3841 views | | 20 replies (last July 18, 2021) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1bBsnZK3

20 replies (most recent on top)

Based on a LinkedIn post (by the individual involved) the day after the sale was announced, Celanese hired a consulting firm that had a former Santoprene employee advising them on the sale. This person resigned from ExxonMobil and then got revenge on his former colleagues by telling the buyer who needed to go with the sale. Today we settle all family business…in this version, Fredo gets even instead of a bullet in the brain.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @ilbt+1bBsnZK3

The Santoprene business never had a chance in ExxonMobil. The arrogance of our leadership is so deep seated that they believe they can turn everything into polyethylene and run their business that way. If I was the VP running what’s left of SE&B, I’d be scared s—tless because he has no way to camouflage the financial disasters that Butyl and Vistalon have become.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @ioap+1bBsnZK3

@1sfb+1bBsnZK3

Oh I think we all know exactly how SE&B was run. Straight into the ground by overhead costs from "advisors" like the one mentioned flying around the world on the company dime soaking up fat salaries and literally crying during meetings that she'd show up to two hours late. Couldn't figure out how to market a mostly automotive product with record global auto sales? Hmmm.

And forget those excel spreadsheets that you look down on so much. The people running the show in SE&B could barely write a coherent email, much less a business plan to get them out of the never ending "ditch" they always claimed to be in.

I just hope the employees have better luck with their new overlords and that the mo--ns who wrecked that business eventually get the PIPs they deserve.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1gju+1bBsnZK3

Since there's such value in selling pieces of the business, why don't we capture the complete value by selling the whole thing?!

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1qbk+1bBsnZK3

@1lxj+1bBsnZK3

If you think that then you clearly don’t understand how a value driven, marketing intensive and growing business is run.

Suggest you stick to sucking HC out of the ground and/or making PX for a living. Good luck with your excel spreadsheet.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1sfb+1bBsnZK3

Anyone who was ever in a meeting with Lynell Maenza knows why this business unit was doomed

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1lxj+1bBsnZK3

Continuing to hold garage sales to pay the house note. What happens when the garage is empty Darren?

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1mfb+1bBsnZK3

Plant manager from NJ was a looser.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @1fai+1bBsnZK3

Only Santoprene? Should have included the whole SEB, useless Organization

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @uxq+1bBsnZK3

Great news for the Santoprene business, and although it may not seem that way now but it is also good news for the employees.
I agree with the other SE&B comment, some of the previous senior management have done a really poor job over successive cycles, (not investing in new capacity soon enough, simplify and fix etc) their reward ? Promotion and career progression. If the rank and file had made such poor decisions they would of been 5th quintile for sure.
Don’t forget DW was VP in 2007-8.
Good luck to all involved, you will be fine and free from the shackles of a commodity mindset. Live long and prosper.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @vfb+1bBsnZK3

I'm envious of the 350 folks... I wish they sold my business too

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @wpc+1bBsnZK3

All ~350 employees going with the sale were told this morning.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @iuy+1bBsnZK3

@mel+1bBsnZK3

They’re going

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @xrv+1bBsnZK3

Although plant personnel will go with the sale, what are they telling the sales, marketing, BTEC technical people about their jobs?

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @mel+1bBsnZK3

Exxon can't figure out how to make a profit with a business that makes predominantly auto parts during the biggest auto industry bo-m of our lifetimes lol

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @yev+1bBsnZK3

Should have thrown in butyl for free

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @azv+1bBsnZK3

This was a long time coming. Several of the senior leaders of this business ran it into the ground with their inept decisions over the course of the last 20 years or so. Most have retired or moved on to more senior roles in other departments. I feel bad for the frontline people that will probably lose their jobs after the acquisition completes.

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @zlk+1bBsnZK3

Good riddance. Hope more to come

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @poo+1bBsnZK3

Great news! It can cover the dividends for a month! Better than nothing!

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @adz+1bBsnZK3

So long and thanks for all the fish

by
| | Reply
Post ID: @ezu+1bBsnZK3

Post a reply

: