What Synthomer does

Synthomer plc is a UK-headquartered (London), London Stock Exchange-listed (LSE: SYNT) specialty chemicals company tracing its origins to 1863. It develops, manufactures and supplies high-performance water-based polymers and specialty chemicals — including acrylic emulsions, nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) latex, hydrocarbon resins, polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) — organised into three divisions: Coatings & Construction Solutions, Adhesive Solutions, and Health & Protection and Performance Materials. More than 80% of its product volume comprises water-based dispersions that eliminate solvent-borne VOCs, and approximately 20% of sales come from new and patent-protected products. Brands such as PLIOLITE, LITEX, PLEXTOL, REGALITE, SUNCRYL, SYNOVUS, Lipolan Terra, AERAFIN and Alcotex serve diverse end-use applications including pressure-sensitive adhesives, architectural and industrial coatings, cement-based construction materials, medical and industrial gloves, battery binders, and paper and carpet backing.

The company operates 29 manufacturing sites and five innovation centres across North America, EMEA and Asia, reaching 100+ countries through subsidiaries, distributors and agents, and serves more than 6,000 blue-chip customers worldwide. It is led by CEO Michael Willome (since November 2021) and Chair Peter Hill CBE (since January 2025), with interim CFO Iain Torrens appointed in May 2026; Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK) is the largest shareholder. FY2025 continuing-operations revenue was approximately £1.7 billion with £137m EBITDA and a £575m net debt position at year-end. Headcount stands at ~3,800 across the global workforce.

Synthomer's revenue model is B2B specialty chemicals: one-time product sales and multi-year contracts negotiated customer-by-customer through a direct enterprise field-sales motion, with no publicly disclosed list pricing. Distribution is anchored in direct sales force relationships supplemented by regional subsidiaries and distributor networks. Since a 2022 strategic review, Synthomer has been actively reshaping its portfolio to focus on differentiated specialty products: it completed a £276m rights issue in 2023, divested Laminates/Films/Coated Fabrics (2023, to Surteco), latex compounding (2024, to Matco NV), and William Blythe (2025), and has agreed to sell its Czech Republic Acrylate Monomers business (2026) to Mutares. Concurrently, it is pursuing growth in bio-based feedstocks (a February 2026 partnership with Godavari Biorefineries for bio-based butyl acrylate), battery and energy storage materials, and certified sustainable products with BIO, CIRCLE and CLIMA sustainability designators.

Name

Synthomer

Legal name

Synthomer plc

Website

https://synthomer.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1863

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Synthomer plc is a UK-listed specialty chemicals company that develops and manufactures water-based polymer dispersions (acrylic emulsions, NBR latex, hydrocarbon resins, PVAc, PVOH) serving blue-chip customers in coatings, construction, adhesives, health & protection, and performance materials across 100+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty polymer manufacturing

NAICS

Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing (325211), Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521)

SIC

Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Plastic Material, Synth Resin/Rubber, Cellulos (No Glass) (2820)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Polymers & Resins (Engineered Materials) (IMAEABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Polymer Additives & Modifiers (Stabilizers, Plasticizers, Impact Modifiers, FRs) (IMAEANAK), Medical & Food-Contact Specialty Compounds (IMANABAK), Styrenics & Specialty Copolymers Manufacturing (ABS, SAN, ASA, SBS/SIS) (IMANAAAE)

Keywords

• Specialty polymer manufacturing
• Water-based polymer dispersions
• Industrial adhesive polymers
• Nitrile latex production
• Hydrocarbon resin formulation

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices37 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Specialty Polymers and Chemicals: Synthomer generates revenue through the sale of high-performance specialty polymers and chemicals organized in three divisions: Coatings & Construction Solutions, Adhesive Solutions, and Health & Protection and Performance Materials. Revenue in 2025 was £1.7 billion in continuing operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Synthomer develops, manufactures and sells high-performance water-based specialty polymers and latex products for industrial customers worldwide. The portfolio spans pressure-sensitive adhesives, hydrocarbon tackifier resins, coatings binders, nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) latex for medical gloves, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate resins, antioxidants, and performance materials, sold under trademarked brands including PLEXTOL, LITEX, TACOLYN, REGALITE, PICCOTAC, IMPERA, KRISTALEX, PLIOLITE, SYNOVUS PLUS, SUNCRYL, Alcotex, Vinaltex, AERAFIN and Lithene.

Product overview

Synthomer is a FTSE-listed specialty chemicals company that develops, manufactures, and supplies high-performance synthetic polymers and latex products. The company operates through three main divisions: Adhesive Solutions, Coatings & Construction Solutions, and Health & Protection and Performance Materials. The product portfolio centers on water-based polymers including pressure-sensitive adhesives (PLEXTOL™, TACOLYL™, LITEX™), hydrocarbon tackifier resins (REGALITE™, PICCOTAC™, IMPERA™, KRISTALEX™), acrylic emulsions (SUNCRYL™, REVACRYL™), nitrile rubber latex (NBR), polyvinyl alcohol (Alcotex®), polyvinyl acetate (Vinaltex™), and specialty performance materials. Synthomer also offers a certified sustainable products line with sustainability designators: BIO (bio-based), CIRCLE (circular), and CLIMA (reduced carbon footprint). These products serve diverse end markets including coatings, construction, adhesives, health and protection, paper and carpet, energy, and consumer materials across Europe, Americas, and Asia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PLEXTOL™: Water-based acrylic emulsion polymers with pressure-sensitive properties for labels, tapes, and specialty applications.
• TACOLYN™
• REGALITE™
• LITEX™
• PICCOTAC™
• FORAL™
• Regalflex™
• PLIOLITE™
• SYNTHOMER™ NX
• SYNOXOL™
• Lithene™
• AERAFIN™
• Alcotex®
• Vinaltex™
• Wingstay™
• Sunigum™
• PLASTVANCE™
• Lipolan™
• SYNTHOSOL™
• IMPERA™
• KRISTALEX™
• SYNOVUS™
• Suncryl™
• REVACRYL™
• IMPERA™

Products and services

• Adhesives Pressure-sensitive adhesives, hot melt adhesives, wet glues, sealants and tape saturants for labels, packaging, construction, hygiene and specialty applications, including waterborne, low-VOC formulations.
• Coatings Polymer solutions for architectural, masonry, intumescent, metal and wood coatings, including coalescing agents, additives and protective films.
• Construction Polymers for cement adhesives, ceramic tile adhesives, flooring adhesives, mortar modification, waterproofing, infrastructure and road construction applications.
• Health & Protection Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) latex and specialty chemicals for medical and examination gloves, industrial gloves, medical devices, hygiene products, non-wovens and personal care additives.
• Performance Materials Polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), elastomeric modifiers, reinforcing resins, tire cord, monomers, antioxidants and 3D printing materials for various industrial applications.
• Energy Solutions Well cementing additives, drilling fluid additives, battery binders and battery energy storage system materials for the energy sector.
• Paper, Carpet & Foam Polymers for tufted and woven carpets, artificial turf, gel foam elastomer backings, automotive carpets, footwear foam, bedding foam, specialty paper, graphic paper and packaging board.
• Consumer Materials Polymers for building materials, industrial applications, hygiene and medical products, tire and rubber, and home textiles.
• Certified Sustainable Products (BIO, CIRCLE, CLIMA) Products with sustainability designators: BIO (bio-based content), CIRCLE (circular/recycled content) and CLIMA (reduced carbon footprint). Includes hydrocarbon resins, acrylic dispersions and nitrile products with verified sustainability benefits.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20%+ of sales volume from new and patent-protected products
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Mutares SE & Co. KGaAminorOthers · 19 June 2026Sale of Synthomer a.s., the operating company for the Acrylate Monomers business in the Czech Republic, to German private equity firm Mutares. The Sokolov facility employs approximately 300 people and was identified as non-core during a strategic review announced in October 2022. Expected to close by end of Q3 2026.
• WooshminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026Partnership to develop circular solutions for diapers, focusing on keeping materials in use for as long as possible and eliminating diaper waste.
• Godavari Biorefineries LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2026Strategic partnership to develop and commercialise bio-based alternatives to fossil-based monomers, starting with bio-based butyl acrylate using GBL's bio-based butanol. The collaboration supports the chemical industry's transition toward renewable feedstocks and helps customers meet emissions reduction targets.
• HenkelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSynthomer is a strategic supplier to Henkel Adhesive Technologies, receiving the 2025 Supplier Sustainability Award in recognition of excellence in sustainability, innovation, and supply resilience.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wacker Chemie AG: German specialty chemical company with a leading position in polymer dispersions and silicone chemistry, directly overlapping with Synthomer's water-based acrylic emulsions (PLEXTOL, Suncryl) and binders for coatings, adhesives, and construction applications.
• Trinseo plc: US-listed specialty materials company with a leading position in latex binders and emulsion polymers for coatings, adhesives, and construction, overlapping with Synthomer's water-based dispersions and styrene-butadiene emulsions (LITEX).
• Mallard Creek Polymers: US-based specialty emulsion polymers manufacturer focused on acrylic, styrene-acrylic, and vinyl-acrylic latexes for adhesives, coatings, and construction; directly comparable to Synthomer's water-based polymer dispersion portfolio in the Americas.

Broad incumbents

• BASF SE: World's largest chemical company with overlapping portfolios in dispersions, specialty polymers, and performance chemicals across adhesives, coatings, construction, and health applications; competes with Synthomer across multiple segments as a broad incumbent rather than a niche specialist.
• Arkema SA: French specialty chemicals company with a strong adhesives raw materials (Bostik) and coating solutions platform; directly comparable to Synthomer in pressure-sensitive adhesives, acrylic emulsions, and sustainable polymer development.
• Lanxess AG: German specialty chemicals company serving adhesives, coatings, construction, and rubber processing end markets; comparable to Synthomer in performance chemicals and additives (e.g., antioxidants like Wingstay) serving overlapping industrial customers.
• Eastman Chemical Company: US specialty chemicals company that divested its adhesive resins business to Synthomer in 2022; comparable in adhesives raw materials, performance chemicals, and specialty additives, with a broader advanced materials portfolio.

Others

• Celanese Corporation: Specialty chemicals company with engineered materials and acetyl chain products, including emulsions and EVA polymers that overlap with Synthomer's performance materials and adhesives offerings; broader portfolio with greater scale and integration.

Emerging players

• Sika AG: Swiss specialty chemicals company serving construction and automotive with adhesives, sealants, and concrete admixtures; overlaps with Synthomer's construction polymers and adhesives segments, primarily as a downstream customer for similar chemistries.

Regional players

• Apcotex Industries Limited: Indian manufacturer of specialty emulsion polymers (acrylic, nitrile, SBR latex) serving adhesives, textiles, and paper; comparable to Synthomer's NBR latex and water-based polymer products but primarily serving the South Asian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/synthomer
• Xx.com/Synthomer_Group

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries28 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A7 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Synthomer