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Arkema (Colombes, France) announced on July 20 the proposed acquisition of (Nazareth, Belgium), a company that specializes in high-performance thermobonding adhesive powders. This acquisition, Arkema says, will enable Bostik (Milwaukee, Wisc., U.S.), the adhesives solution business line of the Arkema Group, to strengthen its global offering of hotmelt adhesive solutions for niche industrial applications. 

Fixatti operates two sites in Europe and one in China, employs 180 people and reports sales of some €55 million. With its grinding, polymerization and compounding capacities, Fixatti is said to develop and market a diversified range of high-performance, environmentally friendly thermobonding powders. Many of these offering solutions addressing bonding issues arise in sectors Bostik is planning to strengthen its global offerings in, including the construction, technical coating, battery, automotive and textile printing markets. 

Additionally, Fixatti's copolyester and copolyamide polymerization capabilities are said to present strong synergies with one of Bostik's historic areas of expertise. Following the acquisition of (Pouzauges, France) in adhesive films in 2019, Arkema says Fixatti’s complementary geographic and technological associations also align well with Bostik’s growth strategy to become a world leader in innovative and high-value-added thermobonding solutions.

Further, this acquisition is said to target the Arkema Group's goal to become a pure specialty materials player by 2024, centered around adhesive solutions, advanced materials and coating solutions, and its ambition to increase this segment’s EBITDA margin to 16% by 2024.

Closing of the deal is expected in the fourth quarter of 2020, subject to approval by the antitrust authorities in the relevant countries.