Sika has added
another Latin
America
acquisition to
its regional
expansion
campaign. This
latest addition will
improve logisitics
for increasing
demand in the
construction
markets.
Sika Expands Latin America Footprint
by Charles W. Thurston
Latin America Correspondent
thurstoncw@rodmanmedia.com
Sika AG, of Baar, Switzerland, has added an- other Latin American aquisition to its re- gional expansion campaign, in Aparecida
de Goiânia, Goiás State, Brazil.
The latest addition will improve logistics for
increasing demand in the construction markets,
mostly concrete admixtures, waterproofing
systems and grouts, the company noted. “The
new plant in Aparecida de Goiâna, in addition
to the acquisition of Lwart Química earlier this
year, is a further step in our strategic expansion
in Brazil initiated in 2012. Sika now operates
seven factories in the country,” said Sika CEO
Jan Jenisch, at the November announcement of
the purchase.
In April 2014, Sika bought Lwart Química
Ltda., based in Lençóis Paulista, Sao Paulo
State, which reported annual sales of $33
million. The company specializes in water-
proofing, and has two noted brands, Lwart
Impermeabilizantes, a technical waterproofing,
and Ciplak Impermeabilizantes, a retail prod-
uct. At the time, Jenisch was quoted saying,
“We have plans for new production lines and
In August 2013 Sika also purchased
AkzoNobel’s building adhesives segment for
$318 million, including the latter’s premium
segment brands Schönox, Cégécol, Casco,
Synteko and EriKeeper.
The acquisition wave has produced bottom
line results. Sika’s 2013 annual report indi-
cates that “Latin America posted the strongest
growth of all regions in 2013. Year-on-year,
sales were 15.1 percent higher, with every coun-
try and target market recording increases.”
In 2012, Sika entered the Paraguay market
with the acquisition of Inatec SRL, based in the
capital of Asunción and reporting annual sales
of $7 million. Inatec, founded in 1982, is a lo-
cal leader in refurbishment, waterproofing and
concrete admixtures market.
In 2011, Sika purchased Colauto Adesivos
e Massas (Colauto), based in São Paulo, which
manufactures adhesives and sealants, along
with acoustic damping and structural reinforcement elements for the automotive and transportation industry. Colauto reported sales of $50
million in 2010. Among other Brazilian operations are plants in: Jaboatão dos Guararapes,
in Pernambuco State; Cachoeirinha, in Rio
Grande State; and Osasco, Sao Paulo State.
In the Latin America region as a whole, Sika
lists 43 countries in which it maintains a presence. Sika’s global distribution centers also include one in Panama.
Among major construction projects in Latin
America utilizing Sika’s waterproofing products is Mexico City’s $20 billion Tunel Emissor
Oriente, a 40-mile long drainage line beneath
the city that was expected to be completed by
the end of 2014, helping to control flooding in
the area.
In early December 2014, Saint-Gobain,
based in Courbevoie, France, announced that it
planned to acquire the majority shares of Sika
held by the Burkard family for $2.8 billion. The
purchase would give Saint-Gobain control of
52.4 percent of all voting rights and 16.1 percent of Sika’s share capital.
Sika’s product lines encompass belowground and mortar waterproofing, flexible
membrane systems, liquid applied membranes,
joint sealants, waterproof ready-to-use mortars,
injection grouts and coatings. CW
