Arkema

History

Arkema was created when French oil major Total restructured its chemicals business in 2004, but the company's roots go back many years.

Origin and evolution

In 1971, Elf and Total merged their chemical operations into Aquitaine Total Organico (ATO), a joint subsidiary. The same year saw the creation of Produits Chimiques Ugine Kuhlmann (PCUK). The joint venture was renamed ATO Chimie in 1973. A second company, Chloé Chimie (40% Elf Aquitaine, 40% Total and 20% Rhône-Poulenc) was formed in 1980 to take over Rhône-Poulenc's chlorochemicals business. Three years later, Total sold its stake in Chloé Chimie to Elf and chemical production in France was reorganized around Atochem, a wholly owned Elf Aquitaine subsidiary that incorporated the activities of ATO Chimie, Chloé Chimie and most of PCUK.

In 1989, Elf Aquitaine acquired the Pennwalt Corporation and, along with M&T Chemicals and Atochem Inc., formed Atochem North America Inc. Pennwalt can trace its roots to the formation of The Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. by five Philadelphia Quakers in 1850. The Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Co. changed its name to Pennsalt Chemicals Corp in 1957 and merged with Wallace and Tiernan Inc. to form Pennwalt Corp in 1969.

The year 1990 saw another reorganization of chemical production in France. Orkem's petrochemicals, styrenics, fertilizers and acrylics businesses were integrated into Atochem, while specialties (resin and paint) moved to Total. Montedison's organic peroxide business was acquired. Atochem was renamed Elf Atochem in 1992 and merged with Total's chemical businesses into Atofina a year after the takeover of Elf by TotalFina in 1999.

Formation, independence and listing

In February 2004, Total, the French-based multinational oil conglomerate announced a reorganisation of its chemicals business. A new company under Total's ownership, named Arkema, was formed on 1 October into which Total placed certain assets held by its Atofina subsidiary, which was then dissolved. The kem part of Arkema's name references the company as a chemicals producer. Arkema was structured into three divisions producing vinyl products (chlorochemicals and PVC, vinyl compounds and pipes and profiles), industrial chemicals (acrylics, fluorochemicals, hydrogen peroxide, PMMA and thiochemicals) and performance products (additives, organic peroxides, agrochemicals and urea-formaldehyde resins).

Total's intention to spin off Arkema into an independent listed company was achieved on 18 May 2006 when Arkema debuted on the Paris stock market. In June 2011, Arkema joined the CAC Next 20 French stock market index.

Acquisitions, disposals and reconfigurations

2007: Arkema sells its agrochemical business (Cerexagri) to United Phosphorus and its urea-formaldehyde activities to Hexion.

2007: acquires Coatex company (specialty acrylic polymers)

2010: acquires acrylic Dow assets in the US

2011: acquires Total coating resins (Cray Valley and Sartomer)

2012: acquires Chinese Company Hipro Polymers (producer of bio-Polyamides) and Casda Biomaterials (producer of plant raw materials)

In July 2012, Arkema sold for 1 symbolic euro its vinyl products business segment to the Klesch group for reasons of profitability, but also to re-center its operations exclusively on specialty chemicals. As part of this divestment, Arkema made a 100 million euro cash payment to the Klesch group and took on debts amounting to 470 million euros to help revive the activity. In response to fears of redundancy and to protests from employees at a number of production sites, the trade unions negotiated, with the Arkema management, industrial and social guarantees as well as support measures designed to protect the rights of employees should the Klesch group implement redundancies following their take-over of the vinyl products activities. Hence two trust funds of €20 M were set up to secure compensation payments and the rights of employees of the companies that were sold off. Following the sale, Arkema reorganized its activities into three business segments: High Performance Materials, Industrial Specialties and Coating Solutions. Each represented about one third of Group turnover.

2015 : Purchase of Bostik from Total S.A. The company also joined CJ Group of South Korea to invest in the manufacture of L-methionine in Malaysia.

In 2019 Sartomer won an Adhesives and Sealants Council (ASC) Innovation Award for "An electron Beam curable Resealable Adhesive that only sticks to itself."

2020 : Plexiglas business sold to the American group Trinseo for $1.1 billion.

2021 : Acquisition of Ashland's Performance Adhesives business for $1.65 billion.

2022 : Acquisition of Permoseal, an adhesive solutions company in South Africa.

Organization

Adhesive Solutions

Formed in 2020 by the transfer of Bostik from the High Performance Materials segment.

Advanced Materials

This segment gathers together four main product lines: specialty polyamides, fluoropolymers (PVDF), molecular sieves for filtration and adsorption and organic peroxides. Brands include Rilsan (polyamide 11), Luperox (Organic Peroxide), Kynar (PVDF), Siliporite (Molecular Sieves).

Coating Solutions

Starting from upstream acrylic monomers, the Group has built a presence across the coating market. Its portfolio of coating materials and technologies includes waterborne, solvent borne, powder coating resins and additives from Arkema Coating Resins, rheology additives for waterborne coatings from Coatex and photocured resins for optic fibers, graphic arts, electronics, etc. from Sartomer. Brands are EnVia, Rheotec, Sarbio.

Intermediates

Includes thiochemicals (for animal nutrition, gas natural odorant), fluorochemicals (for refrigeration, air conditioning, blowing agent for insulating foam) and hydrogen peroxide (pulp and textile bleaching, chemical synthesis, water treatment). Brands include Albone (hydrogen peroxide), Paladin (DMDS agricultural fumigant) and Forane (refrigerants).

Subsidiaries

• Bostik specializes in bonding solutions;

• Coatex produces rheology additives for water-based formulations. Its production sites are located in France (Genay), the Netherlands (Moerdijk), the United States (Chester, South Carolina), Korea (Kunsan), China (Changshu) and Brazil (Araçariguama). Its main brands are Rheocoat, Coadis, Rheocarb, Ecodis, Viscoatex and Coapur.

• MLPC International specializes in the chemistry of carbon sulphide, cyanogen chloride and amines and produces vulcanising agents for the rubber industry. The company was previously known as "Manufacture Landaise de Produits Chimiques". Its origins go back to 1926. Plants are at Lesgor and nearby Rion-des-Landes, in the Landes department of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in south-western France.

• Sartomer produces specialty acrylates for UV curing systems (photo-crosslinking).

• Den Braven makes sealants for insulation and construction.

• Casda manufactures sebacic acid from castor oil.

Arkema worldwide

Locations

Arkema operates through industrial facilities in Europe, North America and Asia and marketing subsidiaries in around 40 countries.

Arkema has 144 production facilities worldwide, including 61 in Europe, 43 in North America, 40 in Asia and in the rest of the world.

Arkema has 13 research centers worldwide: 7 in France (Lacq; Serquigny; Cerdato; Carling; Genay; Pierre-Benite; and Verneuil), three in the United States (Cary, North Carolina; Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; and King of Prussia, Pennsylvania) and two in China (Shanghai and Changshu).

Sales by region

Most of Arkema's sales are generated in Europe, which accounts for 36% of the total. North and South America represents 31% of sales. Arkema has had a strong presence in China for over 13 years. Asia alone now accounts for 33% of sales.

Incidents and legal actions

Crosby, Texas plant explosion

Main article: 2017 Arkema plant explosion

In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused the flooding of Arkema's Crosby, Texas plant. Arkema said it would be unable to prevent an explosion at the plant, after refrigeration equipment failed that kept temperature sensitive organic peroxides cold. On August 31, explosions were reported to be coming from the plant. These turned out to be "small container ruptures" of burning organic peroxides. A 1.5 mile evacuation zone was set up around the site.

Preformation legacy issues

EU antitrust breach

Total, Elf Aquitaine and Arkema were investigated by the EU Commission for involvement in an illegal supply, sales and pricing cartel in the hydrogen peroxide and sodium perborate markets. The Commission found that Arkema's predecessor companies Atochem and Atofina committed the infractions between May 1995 and December 2000. Arkema was fined €78 million in May 2006 for breaching EU antitrust law.

Research and development

Research and development spending totaled roughly 150 million euros, with half allocated to “green chemistry.” Arkema employs more than 1,200 researchers, whose work focuses on two main areas: ultra-high performance polymers and sustainable development solutions.

Financial performance

Arkema generates sales of €7.9 billion, broken down as follows:

• Advanced Materials, 32%.
• Adhesive Solutions, 25,5%.
• Coating Solutions, 24,5%.
• Intermediates, 18%.

Arkema's net debt in 2020 is €1,9 billion.

Shareholder structure

As of 31 December 2010, the major stockholders of Arkema (owning at least 5% of capital declared to AMF) were Greenlight Capital (5,5%), Dodge & Cox (5.2%), Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (10%).

Since January 1, 2012, the level of 5% reported to AMF was passed by:

• FMR LLC (Fidelity Management & Research): declares having +5% of Arkema capital (August 23, 2012);
• Groupe Bruxelles Lambert: sold all its shares in the capital (March 14, 2012);
• Individual shareholders: 94.0%;
• Group employees: 5,5%;

References

References

1. "Arkema : Full year 2021 results".
2. "About us – Arkema.com".
3. "Full-year 2024 results {{!}} Arkema Global".
4. "À propos d'Arkema {{!}} Arkema Global".
5. (2009). "International Directory of Company Histories. Vol. 100.". St. James Press.
6. Cole, Robert J.. (21 March 1989). "Elf Aquitaine To Acquire Pennwalt". [[The New York Times]].
7. . (n.d.). ["CP50: Arkema Inc.: Company Information"](http://www.chemicalprocessing.com/cp50/2008/arkema/). *Putman Media*.
8. (14 October 2004). "ATOFINA: Reorganisation of Total´s chemicals division / PA, PMMA and chlorine go to new firm Arkema".
9. (11 Oct 2004). "Arkema is carved out of old Total block ...". ECN-European Chemical News.
10. (2005-01-12). "Arkema Group - New Beginnings".
11. McCoy, Michael. (1 November 2004). "Arkema Gets Set for Life on Its Own".
12. "Arkema History". Arkema.com.
13. (2011). "2011 annual and sustainable development report". Arkema.
14. (15 November 2006). "United Phos buys French agrochem co Cerexagri for e111m". The Economic Times.
15. (2007-05-30). "Arkema sells its Urea Formaldehyde Resins business to Hexion". Chemeurope.com.
16. (2010-01-27). "Dow Finalizes Sale to Arkema of Acrylic Acid, Esters and Specialty Latex Assets in North America". Chemeurope.com.
17. (2011-09-01). "Arkema Completes Acquisition of TOTAL's Coatings Resins and Photocure Resins". pcimag.com.
18. (9 August 2012). "Arkema Closes Acquisition of Hipro Polymers and Casda Biomaterials {{!}} CHEManager".
19. Stringer, Leigh. (23 November 2011). "France's Arkema to sell vinyl segment to Klesch Group". Reed Business Information.
20. (2011-11-23). "Arkema confirms vinyl unit sale to Klesch Group". reutersmedia.net.
21. (2012-09-20). "Arkema outlines future growth plans, splits operations into three businesses". Chemweek.com.
22. (2015-02-04). "Arkema finalises acquisition of adhesive maker Bostik". [[Business Standard.
23. Spanier, Gideon. (19 September 2014). "Blu-Tack firm comes unstuck from Total". The Independent.
24. Kim, Marie. (June 2015). "CJ CheilJedang Actively Ventures Abroad to New Markets".
25. "Innovation Awards - Adhesive and Sealant Council".
26. "Arkema to Sell PMMA Business to Trinseo {{!}} CHEManager".
27. (2022-02-28). "Ashland completes sale of Performance Adhesives business to Arkema for $1.65 billion".
28. (2022-07-01). "Arkema Finalizes the Acquisition of Permoseal and Strengthens Its Position in Adhesives in South Africa".
29. "France's Arkema enters new development phase". Icis.com.
30. "History".
31. "Our chemistry".
32. Arkema. "Présentation d'Arkema – Arkema.com".
33. (June 2020). "Our Company - Overview". Arkema.
34. (6 February 2012). "Arkema Resultat 2020". AFP.
35. Molinski, Dan. (August 30, 2017). "Arkema Reports Explosion, Smoke at Texas Plant". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
36. (August 30, 2017). "Arkema: No way to prevent explosion at flooded Texas chemical plant". [[CNBC]].
37. (August 31, 2017). "Explosions reported at flooded chemical plant in Texas after Hurricane Harvey". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
38. (31 August 2017). "Explosions possible after 'pops' heard at storm-crippled Texas chemical plant, officials say". The Washington Post.
39. (2017-08-31). "Explosions and Smoke Reported At Arkema Inc. Crosby Plant". Arkema.
40. Watson, Rory. (4 May 2006). "Brussels hits chemical cartel companies with £400m fines.". The Times.
41. (3 May 2006). "Commission Decision - 32006D0903". Official Journal of the European Union.
42. (14 July 2011). "The General Court upholds the fines imposed on Arkema France and on its parent companies, Total and Elf Aquitaine, for their participation in the hydrogen peroxide and sodium perborate cartel".
43. "Publications". Arkema.com.
44. (17 September 2012). "ARKEMA: FMR LLC OWNS 5.03% OF THE VOTING RIGHTS, AMF SAYS (FR)". Arkema.
45. Lewis, Barbara. (13 March 2012). "Belgium's GBL sells 10 percent stake in Arkema". Reuters.