Bostik acquisition by Arkema positions both for growth

The acquisition of Bostik, a global adhesives specialist, by fellow global business Arkema, a broader chemical company, is set to position both for growth.

Founded in 2004 following the reorganization of Total’s chemical branch, and from which it separated in 2006, Arkema has 90 industrial sites with 10 research and development (R&D) centers worldwide. Sales by segment are fairly evenly split between high performance materials, coatings and industrial specialities, while Europe is its dominant region, accounting for more than 40 percent of sales, followed by North America, and then Asia and the rest of the world. To take its revenue to the next level, which was reported as 6.1 billion EUR (6.8 billion USD) in 2013, Arkema has returned to its roots to acquire Bostik from Total.

Arkema growth

For Arkema the acquisition of Bostik fulfills a project that is said to ‘perfectly align’ with its strategy to reinforce its position in specialty chemicals and further develop its high performance materials segment. As such, Bostik now constitutes specialty adhesives, a new business unit of this segment.

Arkema describes the adhesives market as ‘steadily growing’, with Bostik to enable it to continue to strengthen its profile, as well as its resilience to changes in the economic environment.

‘I firmly believe in the quality and the development potential of this company which represents a promising growth platform for the future,’ says Thierry Le Hénaff, Arkema chairman and chief executive officer.

Bostik growth

For Bostik, the acquisition provides the opportunity to leverage its in-house skills and knowledge to both further its own market position and that of its new owners. This includes in the market for industrial adhesives, and more specifically that of tape and labels for which it offers a range of hot melt and solvent-based adhesives. Hot melt adhesives, for instance, are available with a broad range of properties, in high shear grades with elevated temperature resistance for demanding applications such as hook and loop tapes, clear adhesives for transparent filmic labels, freezer grades, low tack and removable grades, as well as all purpose products with broad application and performance tolerances. In the packaging and converting space, Bostik offers hot melt adhesives for carton and case forming and sealing applications, tray forming, and bags and sacks, as well as water-based adhesives carton and case forming and sealing applications, bags and sacks, laminating, and composite tubes and labeling.