Henkel Brands Integrated into ACTEGA

WESEL, GERMANY—August 8, 2013—The specialty chemicals group ALTANA has acquired the specialty coatings business of Henkel. The products are sold under the brand names MiraFoil and Miracure and are mainly supplied to the packaging industry in North America. The business generated sales of around $15 million in 2012. Within the ALTANA group the business will be integrated into ACTEGA Kelstar in the United States and into ACTEGA Terra in Germany, both belonging to the ACTEGA Coatings and Sealants division. “By acquiring the specialty coatings business of Henkel we are continuing to execute our North American growth strategy consistently and focus on innovative specialty chemicals,” said Matthias Wolfgruber, CEO of ALTANA.

The technologies are acquired by way of an asset deal and include effect and overprint coatings curing under ultraviolet radiation and electron beam. MiraFoil coatings are recognized as an environmentally responsible alternative to foil board laminating and hot foil stamping while being equally brilliant to foil. They can be applied to precise areas, hence, reducing waste and shortening lead times. Miracure coatings provide a range of matte, gloss, satin and silicone coatings for conventional printing processes creating high quality visual appearance, such as glow-in-the-dark or dimensional texture.

“With the specialty coatings business of Henkel we are expanding our product portfolio by two highly innovative and sustainable product families,” said Roland Peter, president of the ACTEGA Coatings and Sealants division. “Hence, we will be able to offer our customers even better solutions that are tailor-made to their needs.”

About ALTANA
ALTANA develops and produces high-quality, innovative products in the specialty chemicals business. The ALTANA Group, with headquarters in Wesel, Germany, is a genuine “global player” with about 85 percent of its sales generated by international activities. The ALTANA Group has four divisions: BYK Additives and Instruments, ECKART Effect Pigments, ELANTAS Electrical Insulation, and ACTEGA Coatings and Sealants. All of these divisions occupy a leading position in their target markets with respect to quality, product solution expertise, innovation and service.

ALTANA offers innovative, environmentally compatible solutions with the matching specialty products for coating manufacturers, paint and plastics processors, the printing and cosmetic industries, and the electrical and electronics industry. The product range includes additives, special coatings and adhesives, effect pigments, sealants and compounds, impregnating resins and varnishes, and testing and measuring instruments. At present, the ALTANA Group has 42 production facilities and more than 50 service and research laboratories worldwide. Throughout the Group about 5,360 people work to ensure the success of ALTANA worldwide. In 2012, ALTANA achieved sales of more than 1.7 billion euros. Its impressive earning power and high growth rate make ALTANA one of the most successful and innovative chemical groups worldwide.

About ACTEGA
ACTEGA Coatings and Sealants develops and produces coatings and sealants, printing inks and adhesives for flexible and rigid packaging and for the graphic arts industry. These products not only lend an attractive appearance to materials such as paper, paper board, plastic and metal, but also provide clearly defined technical properties, e.g. chemical and physical resistance to the materials' surface.

The main customers for the products ACTEGA develops, manufactures and markets are in the packaging industry. ACTEGA is one of the market leaders in overprint varnishes and is the technological leader in the rapidly expanding sector of water-based sealants for flexible packaging. ACTEGA products not only ensure that the packaging will look appealing, but also help that the contents will remain fresh longer.

ACTEGA is already one of the world’s leading vendors of sealants for closures and glass containers; ACTEGA is also the technological leader when it comes to water-based sealants for cans. These products are used to make seals between the contact surfaces, such as glass on metal (bottle closures) or metal on metal (can lids). They ensure that the contents and other substances such as CO2 remain inside the packaging while “locking out” all contaminants.

Source: ALTANA.