H.B. Fuller to sell surfactants, thickeners and dispersants business to Tiarco
The sale is supposed to strengthen B.B. Fuller’s focus on highly specified adhesives and to accelerate debt pay-down.
H.B. Fuller Company has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its surfactants, thickeners and dispersants business to Tiarco, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textile Rubber and Chemical Company, Inc., for USD 71 million. H.B. Fuller will use the net proceeds from the sale for debt reduction. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter.
“Not part of our strategic vision”
“Our focus is to shift our portfolio to more highly specified adhesive solutions,” said Jim Owens, president and chief executive officer of H.B. Fuller, “and the surfactants, thickeners and dispersants business is not part of our strategic vision. By divesting this business, we are able to continue to accelerate paying down debt, focus on our core, and better position this business for future growth under the ownership of Tiarco, which specialises in this market. We are pleased that our colleagues will join a strong, established team at Tiarco.”
H.B. Fuller’s surfactants, thickeners and dispersants business, based in Dalton, Ga., had fiscal year 2018 sales of approximately USD 25 million and EBITDA of approximately USD 8 million. Its brands are well recognized, and the products include thickeners used in carpet, floor coatings, adhesive and caulk formulations, as well as surfactants used in detergents, wetting agents, and foam boosters in beauty and healthcare products.
