Arkema
Encyclopedia
Arkema is a French producer of chemicals headquartered in Colombes
, near Paris
, France
.
Created in 2004 when French oil major Total
restructured its Chemicals business, Arkema has 14,000 employees in more than 40 countries, seven research centers worldwide, and a total of 80 production plants in Europe
, North America
and Asia
.
Arkema is organized into three business segments: Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals and Performance Products.
restructured its chemicals business. The restructuring was a gradual process that began many years earlier:
1971: Creation of Aquitaine Total Organico (ATO), a joint Elf-Total subsidiary. Creation of Produits Chimiques Ugine Kuhlmann (PCUK).
1973: Creation of ATO Chimie.
1980: Creation of Chloé Chimie (40% Elf Aquitaine, 40% Total and 20% Rhône-Poulenc).
1983: Creation of Atochem - Chemical production in France is reorganized around Atochem, a wholly owned Elf Aquitaine subsidiary incorporating the activities of ATO Chimie, Chloé Chimie and most of PCUK.
1990: Chemical production is again reorganized in France: Orkem’s petrochemicals, styrenics, fertilizers and acrylics businesses are integrated into Atochem, while specialties (resin and paint) move to Total. Acquisition of Montedison’s organic peroxide business.
1992: Atochem becomes Elf Atochem.
2000: Creation of Atofina by merging TotalFina and Elf’s chemical businesses following the two companies’ 1999 merger.
2004: Creation of Arkema on October 1.
2006: Arkema IPO on the Paris Bourse
on May 18.
Vinyl Products comprises four business units: Chlorine/Caustic Soda, PVC, Vinyl Compounds, and Pipes and Profiles (Alphacan).
Its flagship brands are Jarylec®(technical fluids), Lacovyl® (PVC) and Nakan® (PVC compounds).
Industrial Chemicals comprises seven business units, each with its own product line: Acrylics, Specialty Acrylic Polymers (Coatex), Emulsions, PMMA (Altuglas International), Thiochemicals, Fluorochemicals, and Hydrogen Peroxide.
Arkema is pursuing a development strategy that will transform it into an integrated global player. The acquisition in early 2010 of certain assets from Dow Chemical in North America is just one illustration of this strategy, and boosted Arkema to No. 3 among the world’s acrylic acid producers.
The business segment’s flagship brands include Altuglas® (PMMA), Albone® (hydrogen peroxide) and Forane® (refrigerants).
It represents 28% of Arkema’s sales.
The business segment’s flagship brands include Evatane® (functional polyolefins), Orgasol® (ultrafine polyamide powders), Kynar® (fluoropolymers), Pebax®(polyether block amides), Luperox® (organic peroxides), ReverLink®(supramolecular technology developed by a team led by Dr. Ludwik Leibler) and Rilsan®, RilsamidTM<(polyamides).
, four in North America
, and one in South Korea
. It manufactures and markets four product lines: acrylic resins, Altuglas BS acrylic beads, acrylic sheets, and Tuffak polycarbonate
sheets.
additives for aqueous formulations. It has four production facilities, in France, the Netherlands
, the United States
(South Carolina
) and South Korea.
CECA comprises seven business units:
· Additives for the Oil and Gas Industry and Oilfield Chemicals.
· Diatomite and Perlite-Based Filter Aids and Filtering Solutions.
· Activated Carbon.
· Molecular Sieves.
· Specialty Surfactants.
· Febex Specialty Phosphors.
· Asphalt Additives.
pipes, Bipeau pipes and PVC
profiles in brands such as Esthéa, Espace Clair, AlphaB and Inalpha.
, Arkema operates through Arkema Inc. Headquartered in Philadelphia, it manufactures and markets organic peroxide
s, technical polymer
s (fluoropolymers and polyamides, fluorochemicals and hydrogen peroxide, thiochemicals and fine chemicals (mercaptans
, sulfonyl
s and amine
s), and acrylics (acrylic acid
).
, cyanogen chloride
and amine
s.
compounds used in a variety of applications, including dashboards and interior trim for automobiles, liners for the automotive and building industries, and cables. It is headquartered in Reims
, France
.
, North America
and Asia
and marketing subsidiaries in around 40 countries.
Arkema has 80 production facilities worldwide, including 46 in Europe
, 24 in North America
, and 10 in Asia
.
Arkema has seven research centers worldwide: four in France
(Lacq
, Serquigny
, Lyon
and Carling), two in the United States
(Cary
, North Carolina
and King of Prussia
, Pennsylvania
) and one in Japan
(Kyoto
).
, which accounts for 49% of the total. North
and South America
represents 29% of sales.
Arkema has had a strong presence in China
for over 13 years. Asia alone now accounts for 18% of sales, a figure expected to reach 22% by 2014.
Arkema has made sustainable development a central focus of its R&D strategy, introducing a broad array of innovative materials to help customers reduce their energy use, increasing its use of renewable feedstock, developing nanostructured materials and devising the processes of the future.
The Chairman has set up an eight-member Executive Committee to help manage the company:
- Industrial Chemicals, 51%.
- Performance Products, 28%.
- Vinyl Products, 21%.
The company’s net debt has been reduced by more than 30% from 2008 and stands at €341 million, for a very low net debt-to-equity ratio of 19% at December 31, 2009.
Financial analysts and credit rating agencies use this ratio to determine the solvency of a business. It is generally accepted that most companies should not exceed a ratio of 100%.
(9.9%), Dodge & Cox
(5.2%), Groupe Bruxelles Lambert
(5.0%) and AllianceBernstein
(5.0%).
Colombes
Colombes is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-History:On 13 March 1896, 17% of the territory of Colombes was detached and became the commune of Bois-Colombes ....
, near Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Created in 2004 when French oil major Total
Total S.A.
Total S.A. is a French multinational oil company and one of the six "Supermajor" oil companies in the world.Its businesses cover the entire oil and gas chain, from crude oil and natural gas exploration and production to power generation, transportation, refining, petroleum product marketing, and...
restructured its Chemicals business, Arkema has 14,000 employees in more than 40 countries, seven research centers worldwide, and a total of 80 production plants in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
Arkema is organized into three business segments: Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals and Performance Products.
History
Arkema was created when French oil major TotalTotal S.A.
Total S.A. is a French multinational oil company and one of the six "Supermajor" oil companies in the world.Its businesses cover the entire oil and gas chain, from crude oil and natural gas exploration and production to power generation, transportation, refining, petroleum product marketing, and...
restructured its chemicals business. The restructuring was a gradual process that began many years earlier:
1971: Creation of Aquitaine Total Organico (ATO), a joint Elf-Total subsidiary. Creation of Produits Chimiques Ugine Kuhlmann (PCUK).
1973: Creation of ATO Chimie.
1980: Creation of Chloé Chimie (40% Elf Aquitaine, 40% Total and 20% Rhône-Poulenc).
1983: Creation of Atochem - Chemical production in France is reorganized around Atochem, a wholly owned Elf Aquitaine subsidiary incorporating the activities of ATO Chimie, Chloé Chimie and most of PCUK.
1990: Chemical production is again reorganized in France: Orkem’s petrochemicals, styrenics, fertilizers and acrylics businesses are integrated into Atochem, while specialties (resin and paint) move to Total. Acquisition of Montedison’s organic peroxide business.
1992: Atochem becomes Elf Atochem.
2000: Creation of Atofina by merging TotalFina and Elf’s chemical businesses following the two companies’ 1999 merger.
2004: Creation of Arkema on October 1.
2006: Arkema IPO on the Paris Bourse
Paris Bourse
The Paris Bourse is the historical Paris stock exchange, known as Euronext Paris from 2000 onwards.-History and functioning:...
on May 18.
Organization
Arkema is organized into three business segments — Vinyl Products, Industrial Chemicals and Performance Products — with a view to expanding its portfolio of businesses worldwide:Vinyl products
Arkema is a leading European supplier of chlorochemicals and PVC. The Vinyl Products business segment is integrated across the value chain, from brine electrolysis to PVC processing. It accounts for 21% of Arkema’s sales.Vinyl Products comprises four business units: Chlorine/Caustic Soda, PVC, Vinyl Compounds, and Pipes and Profiles (Alphacan).
Its flagship brands are Jarylec®(technical fluids), Lacovyl® (PVC) and Nakan® (PVC compounds).
Industrial chemicals
Industrial Chemicals relies on complex manufacturing processes and is focused on worldwide markets. It generates 51% of Arkema’s sales.Industrial Chemicals comprises seven business units, each with its own product line: Acrylics, Specialty Acrylic Polymers (Coatex), Emulsions, PMMA (Altuglas International), Thiochemicals, Fluorochemicals, and Hydrogen Peroxide.
Arkema is pursuing a development strategy that will transform it into an integrated global player. The acquisition in early 2010 of certain assets from Dow Chemical in North America is just one illustration of this strategy, and boosted Arkema to No. 3 among the world’s acrylic acid producers.
The business segment’s flagship brands include Altuglas® (PMMA), Albone® (hydrogen peroxide) and Forane® (refrigerants).
Performance products
The Performance Products business segment consists of three business units: Technical Polymers, Specialty Chemicals (CECA) and Functional Additives.It represents 28% of Arkema’s sales.
The business segment’s flagship brands include Evatane® (functional polyolefins), Orgasol® (ultrafine polyamide powders), Kynar® (fluoropolymers), Pebax®(polyether block amides), Luperox® (organic peroxides), ReverLink®(supramolecular technology developed by a team led by Dr. Ludwik Leibler) and Rilsan®, RilsamidTM<(polyamides).
Altuglas International
Altuglas International has eight production facilities — three in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, four in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and one in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. It manufactures and markets four product lines: acrylic resins, Altuglas BS acrylic beads, acrylic sheets, and Tuffak polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
PolycarbonatePhysical PropertiesDensity 1.20–1.22 g/cm3Abbe number 34.0Refractive index 1.584–1.586FlammabilityV0-V2Limiting oxygen index25–27%Water absorption – Equilibrium0.16–0.35%Water absorption – over 24 hours0.1%...
sheets.
Coatex
Coatex produces rheologicalRheology
Rheology is the study of the flow of matter, primarily in the liquid state, but also as 'soft solids' or solids under conditions in which they respond with plastic flow rather than deforming elastically in response to an applied force....
additives for aqueous formulations. It has four production facilities, in France, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
) and South Korea.
CECA
CECA produces of specialty chemicals, such as Noroplast, Cecabase, and ActicarboneCECA comprises seven business units:
· Additives for the Oil and Gas Industry and Oilfield Chemicals.
· Diatomite and Perlite-Based Filter Aids and Filtering Solutions.
· Activated Carbon.
· Molecular Sieves.
· Specialty Surfactants.
· Febex Specialty Phosphors.
· Asphalt Additives.
Alphacan
Alphacan produces extruded and injection-molded plastics. The company manufactures and markets PVCPolyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
pipes, Bipeau pipes and PVC
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
profiles in brands such as Esthéa, Espace Clair, AlphaB and Inalpha.
Arkema Inc.
In the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Arkema operates through Arkema Inc. Headquartered in Philadelphia, it manufactures and markets organic peroxide
Organic peroxide
Organic peroxides are organic compounds containing the peroxide functional group . If the R' is hydrogen, the compound is called an organic hydroperoxide. Peresters have general structure RCOOR. The O-O bond easily breaks and forms free radicals of the form RO·...
s, technical polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
s (fluoropolymers and polyamides, fluorochemicals and hydrogen peroxide, thiochemicals and fine chemicals (mercaptans
Thiol
In organic chemistry, a thiol is an organosulfur compound that contains a carbon-bonded sulfhydryl group...
, sulfonyl
Sulfonyl
A sulfonyl group can refer either to a functional group found primarily in sulfones or to a substituent obtained from a sulfonic acid by the removal of the hydroxyl group similarly to acyl groups...
s and amine
Amine
Amines are organic compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are derivatives of ammonia, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent such as an alkyl or aryl group. Important amines include amino acids, biogenic amines,...
s), and acrylics (acrylic acid
Acrylic acid
Acrylic acid is an organic compound with the formula CH2=CHCO2H. It is the simplest unsaturated carboxylic acid, consisting of a vinyl group connected directly to a carboxylic acid terminus. This colorless liquid has a characteristic acrid or tart smell. It is miscible with water, alcohols,...
).
MLPC International
MLPC International specializes in the chemistry of carbon sulfideCarbon disulfide
Carbon disulfide is a colorless volatile liquid with the formula CS2. The compound is used frequently as a building block in organic chemistry as well as an industrial and chemical non-polar solvent...
, cyanogen chloride
Cyanogen chloride
Cyanogen chloride is an inorganic compound with the formula NCCl. This linear, triatomic pseudohalogen is an easily condensed colorless gas. More commonly encountered in the laboratory is the related compound cyanogen bromide, a room-temperature solid that is widely used in biochemical analysis and...
and amine
Amine
Amines are organic compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are derivatives of ammonia, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent such as an alkyl or aryl group. Important amines include amino acids, biogenic amines,...
s.
Resinoplast
Resinoplast manufactures vinylVinyl
A vinyl compound is any organic compound that contains a vinyl group ,which are derivatives of ethene, CH2=CH2, with one hydrogen atom replaced with some other group...
compounds used in a variety of applications, including dashboards and interior trim for automobiles, liners for the automotive and building industries, and cables. It is headquartered in Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
OPM
In early 2009, Arkema acquired Oxford Performance Materials (OPM), which markets polyether ketone ketones worldwide under the OXPEKK brand. These products are used in aerospace and electronics applications, medical implants, and the oil and gas industry.Locations
Arkema operates through industrial facilities in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and marketing subsidiaries in around 40 countries.
Arkema has 80 production facilities worldwide, including 46 in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, 24 in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and 10 in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
Arkema has seven research centers worldwide: four in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(Lacq
Lacq
Lacq is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France.It lies just northwest of the local capital of Pau.-Economy:...
, Serquigny
Serquigny
Serquigny is a commune of the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.It lies on the rail line from Cherbourg to Paris. In the village there is a privately owned manor house called Chateau de Maubuisson.- Démographie :-References:*...
, Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
and Carling), two in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(Cary
Cary, North Carolina
Cary is a large town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and King of Prussia
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
King of Prussia is a census-designated place in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 19,936. The community took its name in the 18th century from a local tavern named the King of Prussia Inn, which was named after...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
) and one in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
(Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
).
| North and South America | 29% of sales 24 plants 15% of the workforce |
|---|---|
| Europe | 49% of sales 46 plants 75% of the workforce |
| Asia and Middle East | 18% of sales 10 plants 9% of the workforce |
| Rest of the World | 4% of sales 1% of the workforce |
Sales by region
Most of Arkema’s sales are generated in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, which accounts for 49% of the total. North
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
represents 29% of sales.
Arkema has had a strong presence in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
for over 13 years. Asia alone now accounts for 18% of sales, a figure expected to reach 22% by 2014.
Research and development
Research and development spending totaled roughly 3% of Arkema’s sales in 2009, with half allocated to “green chemistry.” Arkema employs more than 1,100 researchers, whose work focuses on two main areas: ultra-high performance polymers and sustainable development solutions.Arkema has made sustainable development a central focus of its R&D strategy, introducing a broad array of innovative materials to help customers reduce their energy use, increasing its use of renewable feedstock, developing nanostructured materials and devising the processes of the future.
Management organization
Thierry Le Hénaff is Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Arkema.Board of directors
Arkema currently has a nine-member Board of Directors. Eight directors are deemed independent.- Thierry Le Hénaff, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Arkema.
- François Enaud, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Stéria S.A.
- Bernard Kasriel, partner and member of the Management Board, LBO France.
- Isabelle Kocher, Chief Executive Officer, Lyonnaise des Eaux.
- Laurent Mignon, Chief Executive Officer, Natixis S.A.
- Thierry Morin, Chairman of the Board of Directors, French National Institute for Industrial Property (INPI).
- Marc Pandraud, Chief Country Officer of France, Deutsche Bank.
- Jean-Pierre Seeuws, retired chemical industry executive.
- Philippe Vassor, Chairman, Baignas S.A.S.
Executive committee
The executive committee ensures the company’s strategy is implemented, examines important issues concerning organization and major projects, and approves capital expenditure. It also tracks the performance of all Arkema businesses.The Chairman has set up an eight-member Executive Committee to help manage the company:
- Thierry Le Hénaff, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
- Bernard Boyer, Executive Vice President, Strategy.
- Michel Delaborde, Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Communications.
- Alain Devic, Executive Vice President, Industrial Operations.
- Pierre Chanoine, Executive Vice President, Performance Products.
- Thierry Lemonnier, Chief Financial Officer.
- Otto Takken, Executive Vice President, Vinyl Products.
- Marc Schuller, Executive Vice President, Industrial Chemicals.
Financial performance
Arkema generates sales of €4.4 billion, broken down as follows:- Industrial Chemicals, 51%.
- Performance Products, 28%.
- Vinyl Products, 21%.
The company’s net debt has been reduced by more than 30% from 2008 and stands at €341 million, for a very low net debt-to-equity ratio of 19% at December 31, 2009.
Financial analysts and credit rating agencies use this ratio to determine the solvency of a business. It is generally accepted that most companies should not exceed a ratio of 100%.
Shareholder structure
As of 31 December 2010 the major stockholders of Arkema were Greenlight CapitalGreenlight Capital
Greenlight Capital is a hedge fund which was founded by David Einhorn. Einhorn's commentary on the financial position of Lehman Brothers in early 2008, and Greenlight's short selling of Lehman stock, foreshadowed Lehmans' collapse....
(9.9%), Dodge & Cox
Dodge & Cox
Dodge & Cox is a mutual fund company founded in 1930 by Van Duyn Dodge and E. Morris Cox which provide professional investment management services. They are headquartered in San Francisco, California...
(5.2%), Groupe Bruxelles Lambert
Groupe Bruxelles Lambert
Groupe Bruxelles Lambert is a Belgian industrial holding company. It is one of the ten biggest Belgian companies, and part of the BEL20. It has been listed in Brussels since 1956.Shareholdings as of 31 December 2010 were:...
(5.0%) and AllianceBernstein
AllianceBernstein
AllianceBernstein LP is a US-based, global asset management firm, owned by the French insurance conglomerate, AXA, with approximately $402 billion in assets under management, as of September 30, 2011....
(5.0%).