Bostik may be acquired by a French chemical company.
The international adhesives giant, headquartered in Wauwatosa, Wis., is currently owned by French oil company Total. Arkema offered Total about $2.2 billion for Bostik last month, according to the New York Times.
Bostik's inclusion would reinforce Arkema's "high performance materials segment," the Times article reported, which would then account for 42 percent of the company's total sales. The acquisition of Bostik and its annual sales of $2.1 billion would create a company with total sales of $9.7 billion.
Bostik could not be reached immediately for comment.
Total gave Arkema a period of exclusivity to pursue the offer, according to Reuters.
Bostik recently opened its Smart Technology Center in Vennette, France (near Paris), this month to supplement the adhesive giant's research and development efforts at its headquarters in Wauwatosa, Wis., and satellite office in Shanghai, China.
The new facility (pictured) will pursue research that caters to European flooring tastes, especially tile.
A total of $15.17 million of investment went into the new 16,400-square-foot building. A maximum of 150 employees can work there.
"This world-class R&D center… strengthens our global research and development capacities," said Bostik Chairman and CEO Bernard Patel in a statement.
