Munksjö has confirmed it has submitted a binding offer to acquire Ahlstrom’s Abrasives business unit, including its share of the jointly operated Arches plant in France.
The potential acquisition marks a strategic expansion of Munksjö’s presence in high-performance fiber-based materials.
The Abrasives unit provides a broad portfolio of paper backings, such as latex-impregnated and heavy-weight papers used in abrasive applications, alongside other technical papers. The move would complement Munksjö’s core business in decor paper and support its ambition to grow in adjacent segments like abrasive backings.
“With the binding offer to Ahlstrom to acquire the Abrasives business, we would strengthen our position in the decor paper market while adding the new business segment Abrasives, which is based on the same technology platform,” said Dr. Manfred Bracher, CEO of Munksjö. “Leveraging Arches’ comprehensive papermaking expertise and experienced employees across both business segments would allow Munksjö to create further value for its customers and establish an even stronger strategic basis for the long-term sustainable development of Munksjö and its people.”
The proposed transaction remains subject to consultation with employee representatives and regulatory approvals. If finalized, the deal is expected to close in the coming months.
This announcement complements Ahlstrom’s earlier statement, in which the company described the potential divestment as a strategic step in its transformation toward a more focused specialty materials portfolio.
Munksjö is an international manufacturer of decor paper solutions used in furniture, flooring, and other surface materials. With 1,200 employees across six sites in five countries, the company focuses on sustainable, tailor-made paper products and reports annual net sales of approximately EUR 440 million.
