Tarkett, a global leader in flooring and sports surfaces solutions, has reached an agreement in principle with Bencis Capital Partners and minority investors to acquire 100% of Netherlands-based Desso, producer of high-end and Cradle to Cradle Certified carpet flooring for the commercial, consumer and sports markets throughout Europe.
“The acquisition of Desso will enable Tarkett to accelerate its profitable growth strategy by targeting the European market of added value carpet for commercial and residential use, as well as innovative sports surfaces.
Tarkett and Desso both adopted Cradle to Cradle® (C2C) design principles several years ago with the support of the German scientific institute Environmental Protection Encouragement Agency (EPEA). The C2C approach acts as an “innovation engine” for both companies, through which they select safer raw materials, thus positively contributing to improved indoor air quality, people’s well-being and the environment.
“We are very excited to join Tarkett with whom we share the same vision and entrepreneurial values, as well as a strong commitment to sustainability, both applying the Cradle to Cradle* principles at each step of the product’s life and supporting the development of the circular economy,” says Desso CEO Alexander Collot d’Escury. “Within the Tarkett group, we will be in a position to offer extended development opportunities to our customers and partners, with products that aim to improve people’s well-being and ultimately their performance.”
The transaction is expected to be concluded at the end of this year.
Earlier this year, Desso joined the Healthy Seas Initiative, through which companies are upcycling discarded fishing nets into new products — Desso is turning the recycled marine litter into ECONYL® yarn for use in new carpets. And Desso's AirMaster® — specially designed carpet tiles that are eight times more effective at capturing and retaining fine dust in the indoor air than hard flooring and four times more effective than standard carpets — was named one of this year's Sustainia100, Sustainia's 100 top sustainability solutions for 2014.
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Published Oct 31, 2014 1pm EDT / 10am PDT / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET