Ascent Industries Authorizes Stock Repurchase of 2 Million Shares
Ascent Industries announced that its board of directors has authorized a new stock repurchase program permitting the company to repurchase up to 2M shares of its common stock over a two-year period ending December 16, 2027. Through the end of the third quarter, Ascent has repurchased approximately 7.2% of its outstanding shares based on its December 31, 2024 share count, reflecting active and disciplined execution of its capital allocation strategy. The newly authorized program supersedes the company's prior stock repurchase authorization approved on February 18 under which the company has already repurchased nearly 75% of the authorized shares.
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- Acquisition Proposal: Merion Road Capital Management disclosed in its fourth-quarter client letter that it acquired shares of Janus Henderson Group (JHG) following a non-binding acquisition proposal from its largest shareholder to buy the company at $46.00 per share, reflecting confidence in the company's future value.
- New Investment Position: The fund also built a position in Ascent Industries (ACNT), a small specialty chemicals company transforming into a pure play with a strong balance sheet, indicating the fund's strategy to seek out investment opportunities with growth potential.
- Cash Position: Merion Road's cash position constitutes 16% of its portfolio, providing flexibility to navigate market fluctuations while demonstrating a focus on risk management in its investment approach.
- Arbitrage Strategy: The fund's relatively safe merger arbitrage position accounts for another 6% of the portfolio, indicating a cautious investment strategy aimed at capitalizing on potential profits from merger transactions in the current market environment.

- Business Growth: Ascent Industries announced the acquisition of a new business program expected to generate over $10 million in incremental annual revenue, representing approximately 15% growth over the company's trailing twelve-month revenue, highlighting the strength of its Chemicals-as-a-Service business model.
- Margin Improvement: The new program is anticipated to exceed current average margins, indicating that as volumes ramp up and utilization increases, Ascent can achieve significant margin expansion, thereby enhancing earnings quality.
- Rapid Delivery Capability: CEO Bryan Kitchen emphasized that customers choose Ascent for its speed, reduced complexity, and reliable performance, showcasing the agility of its customer-centric platform which will drive future business growth.
- Future Outlook: With production and shipments already underway, the program is on track to achieve full run-rate in the first quarter of 2026, further solidifying Ascent's competitive position in the specialty chemicals market.

Lease Assignment Announcement: Ascent Industries Co. has announced that its sale-leaseback partner will assign the lease for its former tubular facility in Munhall, Pennsylvania to a new tenant, effective November 14, 2025.
Cost Reduction: This lease assignment will eliminate approximately $2.1 million in annual facility-related costs, including rent, taxes, utilities, and insurance, thereby strengthening Ascent's earnings profile and cash flow.
Company Growth Strategy: CEO Bryan Kitchen emphasized that the company is focused on accelerating the growth of its Chemicals-as-a-Service platform and is actively winning new projects and scaling its business model.
Company Overview: Ascent Industries Co. is a specialty chemicals platform dedicated to developing, producing, and distributing tailored chemical solutions, with more information available on their website.

Financial Performance: Ascent Industries (ACNT) has been unprofitable, with losses increasing at an average rate of 16.3% per year over the past five years, and its net profit margin has not improved during this period.
Market Valuation: The company's shares are trading at $12.54, significantly below the estimated fair value of $17.90, indicating that the market has not yet priced in any potential turnaround despite ongoing losses.
Investor Concerns: Persistent unprofitability and stagnant profit margins raise concerns among cautious investors, making it difficult for Ascent Industries to demonstrate a potential earnings recovery.
Valuation Comparison: With a Price-To-Sales ratio of 0.7x, Ascent Industries trades at a considerable discount compared to its peers and the broader US Metals and Mining industry, suggesting a fundamental undervaluation.

Conference Call Announcement: Ascent Industries Co. will hold a conference call on November 4, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its third-quarter financial results for the period ending September 30, 2025.
Access Information: Participants can register for the webcast and dial in 5-10 minutes before the call; the call will also be available for replay on the company's website.
Company Overview: Ascent Industries Co. specializes in the development, production, and distribution of tailored chemical solutions and is listed on NASDAQ under the ticker ACNT.
Contact Information: For inquiries, Ryan Kavalauskas (CFO) and Ralf Esper (Investor Relations) can be contacted via provided phone numbers and email.

Gateway Conference Announcement: Gateway Group has confirmed the lineup for its annual Gateway Conference, scheduled for September 3-4, 2025, at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco, featuring over 60 public and private companies from various high-growth sectors.
Diverse Presenting Companies: Notable participants include Applied Digital, Anterix, Solaris Energy Infrastructure, and Bitcoin Depot, among others, showcasing innovations across AI, fintech, cleantech, and more.
Investor Engagement: The conference will host over 300 institutional investors and analysts, with a partnership with Stocktwits to enhance engagement with retail investors through live broadcasts.
Focus on Networking: The event emphasizes building connections between innovative companies and thoughtful investors, aiming to foster long-term relationships and value creation within the investment community.





