Yokohama Rubber sells adhesive business unit to Sika Group

Baar, Switzerland – Sika has agreed to acquire Hamatite, the adhesives business of The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. Hamatite is a market leader in Japan, offering adhesives and sealants to the automotive and construction industries. The acquisition will significantly strengthen Sika’s market position in Japan, increase market access to all major Japanese OEMs, and notably extend the product offering for sealing and bonding applications in the Japanese construction industry. Headquartered in Tokyo, the business generates annual sales of CHF 160 million. The transaction is subject to clearance by anti-trust authorities.

Hamatite is a highly recognized, trusted supplier with a strong, reputable brand, holding a leading position in the Japanese automotive and construction industry. With its high-quality products and nationwide sales network, it has built up long-lasting relationships with both Japanese automotive OEMs as well as customers in the construction sector and is seen as a reliable, long-term business partner. The product portfolio comprises various technologies such as polyurethanes, hot melts, and modified silicones. The well established Hamatite brand is the preferred solution among the Japanese OEMs for glass bonding as well as for hot melt applications. The main application area in the construction industry is sealing and bonding solutions for exterior facades. Hamatite operates five plants, the main site being in Hiratsuka, Japan. Additional manufacturing facilities are located in Japan, China, Thailand, and in the USA.

By acquiring Hamatite, Sika’s automotive business will immediately benefit from increased market access to all major Japanese OEMs, significantly increasing content per vehicle (CHF sales/vehicle) with these customers globally. Besides ensuring a seamless business transfer to all valued customers globally, Sika expects to further expand its relationship with and widen its offering for global Japanese car manufacturers when operating in other countries. The combined business will offer an extensive global production footprint, thus delivering long-term supply chain advantages to all automotive OEMs.

In construction, the acquisition will allow Sika to gain market share and become a strong player in the Japanese market. Furthermore, it will extend Sika’s range of adhesives and sealants that meet the high Japanese building standards. The widened range of complementary products and expanded customer network will provide the combined business with significant cross-selling opportunities. The strengthened production footprint in Japan will enable the organization to reliably serve the enlarged customer base.