Arkema to Acquire Additives and Emulsions Production Facility from Resicryl

Arkema announces a project for the acquisition of an additives and emulsions production site from Brazilian Group Resicryl. The project illustrates the Groups commitment to speeding up its development in Latin America around high added value products. The Group should indeed benefit from the expected strong growth in the mineral industry, paper, construction, water treatment, and paint and adhesives markets.

Under the terms of the agreement, Arkema would acquire, via its subsidiary Coatex, the Araoariguama production site on the outskirts of Sao Paulo. The new entity, which will therefore comprise Coatexs existing sales in Brazil and those from the new site, will generate 20 M sales.

Coatex and Arkema would provide their know-how for the manufacture of resins and specialty emulsions, which are used in wide-ranging industries, including mineral processing, paint, adhesives, paper, construction, water treatment, and cosmetics.

The Araoariguama facility was built in 2007. The production plants would gradually be developed to manufacture without delay Arkemas and Coatexs full range of rheology additives and waterborne emulsions, and would offer great development opportunities for the Araoariguama site thanks to the Arkema Groups know-how and technologies. Resicryl would refocus its activity on the distribution and production of a limited range of coatings and latex.

"The Araoariguama site is ideally placed to fulfil the expectations of both our existing and our future customers. This is a first major step that will allow Arkema and its subsidiary Coatex to draw on the strong growth of Brazil and Latin America without delay" stated Alain Mari, Chairman of Coatex.

The deal should be closed in the 2nd half of 2012.

About Arkema

A global chemical company and Frances leading chemicals producer, Arkema is building the future of the chemical industry every day. Deploying a responsible, innovation-based approach, we produce state-of-the-art specialty chemicals that provide customers with practical solutions to such challenges as climate change, access to drinking water, the future of energy, fossil fuel preservation and the need for lighter materials. With operations in more than 40 countries, some 13,200 employees and 9 research centers, Arkema generates annual revenue of approximately 5.9 billion, and holds leadership positions in all its markets with a portfolio of internationally recognized brands. The world is our inspiration.

A subsidiary of the Arkema Group, Coatex specializes in the manufacture and marketing of flow additives used in a large number of markets, including paper, paint and adhesive, the treatment of minerals, detergence, concrete, ceramics, cosmetics, water treatment, textile and leather. With a global presence, industrial sites in France, the Netherlands, the United States, China and Korea, and sales offices on five continents, Coatex reported sales of around 180 million in 2011.