HB Fuller to Sell Select Businesses to Tiarco

HB Fuller Co. has signed a definitive agreement to sell its surfactants, thickeners and dispersants business to Tiarco LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textile Rubber and Chemical Co. Inc., for $71 million. HB Fuller will use the net proceeds from the sale, which is expected to close in the third quarter, for debt reduction.

“The business being sold is a non-strategic, non-adhesive business, which was purchased as part of the Royal acquisition,” commented Jim Owens, president and CEO of HB Fuller. “Our focus is to shift our portfolio to more highly specified adhesive solutions, 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 specializes 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 $25 million and EBITDA of approximately $8 million.