The maker of Blu-Tack, the sticky stuff used to hang posters that is loved and loathed in equal measure by teenagers and parents, is to be sold for €1.74 billion.
Total, the French oil company, said yesterday that it had struck a deal to sell Bostik, its adhesives division, to Arkema, a chemicals group that was itself spun out of Total in 2006.
Bostik is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of adhesive products for the industrial and consumer markets, with brands such as Blu-Tack, Grip Fill, Evo-Grip, Serious Stuff Liquid Metal and Super Glue.
In Britain, Bostik is best known for its child-friendly Blu-Tack products, which for decades have helped teenagers to adorn their rooms with posters and destroy wallpaper.
It has other uses.