Company Overview

Arkema S.A. is a global specialty materials company focused on the development and manufacturing of advanced materials, specialty chemicals, and performance solutions used across a wide range of industrial and consumer applications. The company operates primarily in the specialty chemicals and advanced materials industries, serving end markets such as construction, automotive, aerospace, electronics, energy, packaging, and consumer goods. Arkema’s business model emphasizes high value-added materials with strong innovation content, durability, and performance characteristics.

The company’s primary revenue drivers are its Advanced Materials, Specialty Additives, and Adhesive Solutions businesses, which together represent the majority of sales and operating income. Arkema positions itself as a pure-play specialty materials provider, having largely exited commodity chemicals. Founded in 2004 as a spin-off from Total S.A., Arkema has evolved through targeted acquisitions and portfolio reshaping to focus on specialty materials aligned with sustainability, lightweighting, and energy efficiency trends.

Business Operations

Arkema reports operations across three main segments: Advanced Materials, Specialty Additives, and Adhesive Solutions. The Advanced Materials segment includes high-performance polymers and fluoropolymers used in demanding applications such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, and aerospace. Specialty Additives produces additives and functional solutions that enhance performance in coatings, lubricants, construction materials, and packaging. Adhesive Solutions supplies technical adhesives and bonding systems for industrial, construction, and consumer applications.

The company operates an integrated global manufacturing and R&D network, with proprietary polymer technologies, formulation expertise, and intellectual property supporting product differentiation. Arkema generates revenue through long-term customer relationships, innovation-driven product development, and customized solutions. Its operations span both domestic and international markets, supported by subsidiaries including Bostik, Arkema Inc., and Arkema France, with Bostik serving as the core platform for adhesive solutions globally.

Strategic Position & Investments

Arkema’s strategic direction centers on accelerating growth in specialty materials while reducing exposure to cyclical and lower-margin commodity chemicals. The company has pursued this strategy through divestitures of commodity assets and targeted acquisitions, notably the acquisition of Bostik, which significantly expanded its presence in adhesives, and Permoseal and Fixatti, which strengthened its technical adhesive and nonwoven capabilities.

The company continues to invest heavily in innovation, sustainability, and high-growth end markets such as electric mobility, renewable energy, bio-based materials, and recyclable solutions. Arkema has committed capital to expanding production capacity for specialty polymers and bio-based materials while increasing R&D investment in low-carbon technologies. Emerging focus areas include advanced battery materials, lightweight composites, and sustainable adhesive systems.

Geographic Footprint

Arkema is headquartered in France and operates manufacturing, research, and commercial facilities across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East. The company maintains a strong presence in Western Europe and the United States, which together account for a substantial portion of revenue, while Asia-Pacific, particularly China, represents a key growth region.

The company’s global footprint includes more than 50 countries, enabling proximity to customers and regional supply chains. Arkema’s international operations support diversified revenue streams and reduce reliance on any single market, while also providing exposure to emerging economies and industrial growth in Asia and Latin America.

Leadership & Governance

Arkema is led by an experienced executive team with a strategic focus on specialty materials growth, operational excellence, and sustainability-driven innovation. The leadership emphasizes disciplined capital allocation, portfolio optimization, and long-term value creation through technology and customer-centric solutions.

Key executives include:

• Thierry Le Hénaff – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
• Laurent Tellier – Chief Financial Officer
• Alain Le Grix de la Salle – Chief Operating Officer
• Stéphane Rigal – Senior Vice President, Human Resources
• Hervé Frouin – Senior Vice President, Strategy and Sustainability

The company operates under a unitary board structure consistent with French corporate governance standards, with oversight of strategy, risk management, and sustainability commitments integrated into board-level decision-making.