Stahl employs approximately 1,800 people worldwide and generated adjusted sales of €725 million in fiscal 2025, according to Henkel’s closing announcement.

The acquisition builds on Henkel’s strategy of expanding into adjacent technologies serving both existing customers and additional end markets. When announcing the agreement, Henkel highlighted Stahl’s research capabilities, customized product development and service-driven business model.

Henkel also said a majority of Stahl’s revenue came from water-based solutions. The company identified the combination of those technologies with its existing customer relationships as an opportunity to expand its specialty materials offering.

“We are very excited to welcome our new colleagues to our Adhesive Technologies team to jointly drive further business opportunities,” said Mark Dorn, executive vice president responsible for Adhesive Technologies.

Henkel CEO Carsten Knobel said the Stahl, ATP Adhesive Systems and Wetherby Laroc acquisitions together added approximately €1 billion in combined sales to Adhesive Technologies through transactions completed this year.

Separately, Clariant confirmed that the closing generated preliminary pre-tax cash proceeds of approximately CHF 220 million from its 14.6% minority interest in Stahl. Clariant said its shareholder agreement required participation in the transaction following notification from controlling shareholder Wendel. The proceeds remain preliminary rather than a final after-tax amount.

The acquisition brings specialty coatings for flexible substrates into a major adhesives and sealants business, expanding the combined supplier’s formulation, application and customer-development capabilities.