Arkema finalises acquisition of Ashland’s performance adhesives business

Arkema finalised on 28 February 2022 the acquisition of Ashland’s Performance Adhesives business, a first-class leader in high performance adhesives in the United States. This operation marks a major step in Arkema’s strengthening of its Adhesive Solutions segment, and fully aligns with the Group’s strategy to become a pure speciality materials player by 2024.

With its wide range of key technologies and well-known brands, Ashland Performance Adhesives is a major player in pressure-sensitive adhesives, in particular in decorative, protection, and signage films for automotive and buildings. It also holds leading positions in structural adhesives and offers an extensive range of adhesives for flexible packaging.

This activity, which employs approximately 330 people and operates six production plants, mainly in North America, generated estimated sales of around US$360M in 2021 (1) and an EBITDA margin above 25% (1). It offers excellent commercial, technological and geographic complementarities with Bostik, allowing it to expand its solutions offering and position itself as a major player in high performance industrial adhesives.

This operation is based on a US$1650M enterprise value, i.e. 8.7x the 2026 EBITDA after taking into account the expected growth in the coming years and the synergies evaluated at 12.5% of sales. A key milestone in its strong long-term growth ambition, this acquisition now allows Bostik to aim for an EBITDA margin above 17% by 2024.

"We are very happy to welcome Ashland Performance Adhesives’ teams within Arkema. I am convinced that Bostik will benefit from this deal to accelerate its development in attractive and high-growth applications. Our strengthened Adhesive Solutions segment will play a key role in implementing our ambition to be a leader in innovative materials for a more sustainable world,” stated Thierry Le Hénaff, Arkema’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.