DuPont Chemical Solutions Enterprise Completes Acquisition of ATOFINA Surface Protection Chemicals Assets
Becomes Largest Integrated Fluorotelomer Protectants Producer in North America and Europe
PARIS, Sept. 3, 2002. DuPont Chemical Solutions Enterprise officials announced today the completion of the acquisition of the surface protection and fluoroadditives business assets of Atofina, the chemicals branch of French oil/energy conglomerate TotalFinaElf. Financial terms were not disclosed.
With the completion of this acquisition, DuPont Chemical Solutions Enterprise becomes the largest integrated producer of fluorotelomer-based specialty products for surface protection applications in North America and Europe. DuPont manufactures and markets surface protection finishes and specialty surfactants under the DuPont(TM) Teflon(R) and DuPont(TM) Zonyl(R) brands. DuPont will also offer a broadened product line with the addition of more than 40 new products -- including products formerly marketed under the ATOFINA Forafac(R) and Foraperle(R) brands.
These combined families of protection agents -- primarily used as oil, water and grease repellents -- strengthen the DuPont presence in several markets including carpet, textile, paper, leather, fire fighting foams and stone and tile protection. DuPont is already well recognized as a leader in delivering innovative surface protection solutions. These solutions include DuPont(TM) Stainmaster(R) residential carpet with Advanced Teflon(R) repel protection, the most well-recognized and superior residential carpet consumers can buy -- Teflon(R) stain protection for apparel and home furnishings, Teflon(R) surface protection for stone, tile and coatings, and FDA-approved Zonyl(R) paper protection products.
In addition to the newly acquired product offerings, DuPont acquisition assets include manufacturing and fixed assets at the Villers-Saint Paul site located northeast of Paris. Nearly 50 ATOFINA employees will join DuPont, including business, marketing, technical service and manufacturing personnel. European laboratory facilities and technical experts will be integrated into the DuPont technology organization, focused on creating innovative surface protection solutions worldwide.
"DuPont is a dependable supplier of quality products and innovations," said William F. Weber, DuPont Surface Protection Solutions global business manager. "This acquisition is based on a strategic decision to offer experienced and dependable surface protection solutions to markets that have seen substantial changes in the past two years. We look forward to continuing to offer our product knowledge and market focus to our customers, and are excited about creating new synergies with our combined resources to develop new surface protection offerings to meet the growing demand for safe and effective protection solutions."
To strengthen its presence in the European region, DuPont Chemical Solutions Enterprise (DCSE) also announced the appointment of M. Yves Kirpach as regional business leader for the DuPont Surface Protection business. Mr. Kirpach has an extensive background in international business roles for DCSE and will focus his efforts on guiding future business developments in line with the European regional needs.
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