Chase Corporation announced that it has acquired Stewart Superabsorbents (SSA), LLC, an advanced superabsorbent polymer (SAP) formulator and solutions provider, with operations located in Hickory and McLeansville, North Carolina.

  A press release said that for its most recently completed calendar year, SSA and its recently acquired Zappa-Tec business (collectively “Zappa Stewart”) had combined revenue in excess of $24 million. Zappa Stewart’s products include materials for diverse markets that include wire and cable, for which it provides direct application of swellable powder, liquid, or hot melt adhesives for substrates such as non-wovens, yarns, strength members and shielding tapes.

  The business, the release said, was acquired for $71,382,000, net of cash acquired, pending any working capital adjustments and excluding acquisition-related costs. As part of the deal, Chase acquired the business equity and entered into multiyear leases at both locations.  

“This is a highly complementary acquisition for Chase Corporation which leverages our existing channels to industrial markets and allows us to deliver more value to our customers,” said Chase President and CEO Adam P. Chase. “Zappa Stewart’s proven protective materials technology is a great fit with our core strategy and extends our reach into growing medical and consumer applications. Their North Carolina operations will broaden our capabilities, and will add two facilities near the three we already have in the region. The new technologies and additional management talent will enhance our cross-functional operating model, creating logical synergies and value-creation opportunities.”

  Chase Corporation will continue to manufacture and market under the Zappa Stewart brands and locations, with plans to integrate Zappa Stewart into its ERP platform in the coming months to further enhance existing operational, development and engineering expertise.