Dow eyes buys in elastomers, adhesives, coatings

18 May 2007 17:54  [Source: ICIS news]

NEW YORK (ICIS news)--Dow Chemical is looking for possible acquisitions in elastomers, sealants, coatings and adhesives, a company official said on Friday.

Juan Antonio Merino, global manager for Dow’s polyurethane systems, said the company plans further bolt-on growth in the wake of its acquisition of polyurethane producer Hyperlast.

Merino would not disclose specific potential acquisition targets.  However, he said the company hopes to build its presence in areas where it is comparatively not as strong, such as elastomers, sealants, coatings and adhesives.

He said the company’s strategy is to increase preferentially the systems within its polyurethanes portfolio.  Merino said that strategy was behind the purchase of Hyperlast.

Hyperlast is the fourth Dow polyurethane systems acquisition since 2000 when the company acquired General Latex.  Dow bought Italy’s EniChem polyurethanes business in 2001, and in 2006 Dow formed a joint venture with Russian polyurethane manufacturer Izolan.

The company had been developing polyurethane elastomers internally, Merino said, “but we felt that it would be faster to make a strategic acquisition”.

(Look for more about Dow’s growth plans for its polyurethane systems in the 21 May issue of ICIS Chemical Business Americas.)

By: Ivan Lerner
+1 713 525 2653

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