Silberline

MILWAUKEE (January 10, 2024) – The specialty chemicals group ALTANA has entered into an agreement to acquire the Silberline Group. The U.S. company specializes in developing and manufacturing effect pigments utilized in various applications, ranging from automotive coatings and printing inks to plastics, protective coatings, and packaged consumer goods. Grace Matthews served as exclusive financial advisor to Silberline.

“The acquisition is further proof that we are sustainably implementing our strategy of generating value-creating growth through targeted acquisitions,” says Martin Babilas, CEO ALTANA AG. With the move, ALTANA is strategically expanding its ECKART division and strengthening its regional presence, particularly in North America and Asia. 

“The local research and production capacities of Silberline and ECKART complement each other perfectly. The merger will enhance our ability to respond flexibly to regional customer needs and further optimize our service quality,” explains Dr. Christian Przybyla, President of ECKART.

Gary Karnish, CEO of Silberline, said: “The acquisition of Silberline by ECKART creates new potential. Together, we can more intensively drive the development of sustainable product innovations, benefiting both customers and employees.”

“Grace Matthews has more than 25 years of experience in chemicals and material science transactions, and the combination of Silberline and ECKART is as strong of a strategic fit as we’ve come across,” commented Andrew Cardona, Director of Grace Matthews. “We are pleased to have advised Silberline on a successful outcome for all company stakeholders”.

The completion of the transaction is still subject to customary closing conditions, and both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. 

ALTANA is a global leader in true specialty chemicals. The Group offers innovative, environmentally compatible solutions for coating manufacturers, paint and plastics processors, the printing and packaging industries, the cosmetics sector, and the electrical and electronics industry. The product range includes additives, specialty coatings and adhesives, effect pigments, sealants and compounds, impregnating resins and varnishes, and testing and measuring instruments. ALTANA’s four divisions, BYK, ECKART, ELANTAS, and ACTEGA, all occupy a leading position in their target markets with respect to quality, product solution expertise, innovation, and service.

Headquartered in Wesel, Germany, the ALTANA Group has more than 50 production facilities and more than 60 service and research laboratories worldwide. Throughout the Group, about 8,000 people work to ensure the worldwide success of ALTANA. In 2022, ALTANA achieved sales of more than € 3 billion. About 7 percent of the total sales is invested in research and development each year. Its high earning power and high growth rate make ALTANA one of the world’s most innovative, fastest growing, and most profitable chemical companies.

The ECKART Group, a company of ALTANA AG, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of effect pigments. With 1,750 employees worldwide, the group develops, produces and distributes metallic effect and pearlescent pigments in powder, paste and pellet form as well as concentrates, dispersions and printing inks. ECKART products are used in the coatings and printing industries, the plastics and autoclaved aerated concrete industries as well as in cosmetic products. In the future, ECKART will also drive the optimization and development of metal powders for 3D printing, thus opening up new areas of application. ECKART is present in over 70 countries.

Silberline is a global provider of aluminum effect pigments that are used in a wide variety of applications, from automotive paints and printing inks to plastics, protective coatings and consumer packaged goods. For more than 75 years, Silberline has thrived on a passion for innovation in creating the finest aluminum pigments for the brightest, most appealing effects possible. Silberline products deliver positive product distinction through bold and beautiful special effects. Silberline, headquartered in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1945 and currently employs over 450 people globally. In 2022, the company achieved sales of approximately 80 million U.S. dollars.

ABOUT GRACE MATTHEWS
Grace Matthews, Inc., a Milwaukee-based investment bank, provides merger, acquisition, and corporate finance advisory services to private and public companies across the chemical and material science value chain. Over the past two decades, Grace Matthews has successfully completed over 200 transactions on behalf of private, middle-market companies, private equity firms, and large, foreign or U.S.-based multi-nationals. For more information, visit gracematthews.com.