Sika AG, located in Baar, Switzerland, is a globally integrated company supplying the specialty chemicals markets. It is a leader in processing materials used in sealing, bonding, damping, reinforcing and protecting load-bearing structures in construction (buildings and infrastructure construction) and in industry (vehicle, building component and equipment production).
Sika's product lines feature high-quality concrete admixtures, specialty mortars, sealants and adhesives, damping and reinforcing materials, structural strengthening systems, industrial flooring and membranes.
Subsidiaries in more than 70 countries worldwide and approximately 12,000 employees link customers directly to Sika and guarantee the success of all of its business relationships.  With this business structure Sika generates annual sales of more than CHF 3.5 billion
http://www.sika.com

Currencies influence growth
In the first quarter of business year 2008 Sika increased sales in comparison with the same period in the previous year from CHF 987 million by 3.2% to CHF 1018 million. Underlying organic growth amounted to 7.5%. Acquisitions contributed 0.2% to sales growth. Exchange rate differences, primarily in the US dollar and Euro, bore a negative effect of -4.5%.
While Sika achieved solid, double-digit sales growth in the months of January and February, various factors resulted in a weakening of net sales in March. Currency developments with a negative effect for Sika accelerated considerably, not only in the dollar and Euro regions, but also in a number of countries in Asia and Latin America. In addition, the early Easter holiday led in various European countries to interruptions in construction that otherwise would normally have been registered in the second quarter of the business year. In contrast with the same month in the previous year, weather conditions for construction in Europe were disadvantageous. 
Divisions and Regions
Organic growth in the Construction Division in the first quarter amounted to 8.6%. The Industry Division achieved organic growth of 4.2%. Additionally to the already mentioned factors the reasons for the comparatively restrained growth in the Industry Division during the first quarter lie on one hand in not yet satisfactory automotive business in the USA and in a temporary production stop at an important customer in Europe. 
From a geographic standpoint the Regions IMEA (India, Middle East, Africa), with 25.8%, and Latin America with 16.1% once more attained the highest rates of growth. In Eastern Europe the previous year's dynamism continued unabated.
Outlook
Sika is convinced also in business year 2008 of achieving its target for organic growth of eight to ten percent and of increasing its result again with slightly disproportional gain.

Sika acquires Tricosal in Germany and Switzerland
Sika acquires the business activities of the German Tricosal GmbH & Co. KG in Illertissen, a leading company in waterproofing of water-tight buildings and civil engineering structures in Germany, and the production and distribution activities of Tricosal BBZ AG in Hauptwil in Switzerland. With this acquisition, Sika expands its product range and know-how for structural sealing. With Tricosal's area-wide sales and marketing network, which comprises four subsidiaries, and with its construction site services Sika strengthens the project business in the German market. Alongside the sealing activities Sika also acquires the product area gypsum.
Tricosal, which last year generated an annual turnover of EUR 22 million, has developed a strong position in Germany with solutions for joint and surface waterproofing and with injection systems. Internationally, the Tricosal Group has established successful market positions primarily in Europe, the USA, in the Middle and Far East as well as Australia. The Illertissen location will be developed within the Sika Group as a competence center for structural sealing. The 120 employees of Tricosal will be integrated. Tricosal BBZ AG's production will be transferred to a Sika production site for technical reasons and continued there.

Completion of the transaction is still dependent on the approval of the relevant antitrust authorities and is anticipated for mid 2008. Confidentiality has been agreed regarding the sales price

12/03/07 Sika acquires MRT Construction Products in Canada
Sika is acquiring MRT Construction Products located in Edmonton, Canada. The company supplies the Canadian concrete admixture market and generated sales of approximately CHF 3 million in 2006. The parties agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The acquisition accelerates the geographic coverage of the concrete admixture market in the North American region.
 

15/01/07 Sika to sell Sarna Plastec AG
Sika AG, headquartered in Baar, Switzerland, is selling Sarna Plastec AG, Sarnen, Switzerland, in a management buyout to Kurt Mäder, the company's managing director, and Andre Strasser, head of marketing and sales. Sarna Plastec AG develops, manufactures and sells customer-specific solutions in foams and plastic films. In 2006, the company reached a turnover of approximately CHF 13 mil. The parties agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
With the takeover of Sarna Polymer Holding Inc. in 2005, Sarna Plastec AG became part of the Sika Group. Sarna Plastec operates in specialty niche markets that are not part of Sika's strategic focus.
The sale to its management allows Sarna Plastec to develop sales in its markets in keeping with its goals and guarantees continuity for its staff of about 70 employees as well as its customers. Sarna Plastec will remain at its present location on the Sika Sarnafil site. 

11/01/07 Strong Sika growth in favorable business environment
Sika Group posted net sales in 2006 of CHF 3.9 billion. Net sales were therefore 33.5% above previous year measured in Swiss francs. Organic growth accounted for 16.8%, acquisitions for 15.0% (mainly Sarnafil) and favorable currency effects for 1.7%. The acquisition effects benefited the Construction Division exclusively.
Sales in all regions saw solid, two-digit growth. The sharpest rises were recorded in Eastern Europe, Latin America, South-East Asia and Australia/New Zealand.
Organic growth of the Construction Division was favorably affected by the mainly positive market situation in the construction business as well as the mild weather in the fourth quarter of 2006. As the business environment has been extraordinarily favorable for Sika in 2006, similar growth rates can most probably not be expected in 2007. Our mid-term financial goals stay at 8 - 10% organic growth per annum, as previously communicated.
Further details on 2006 will be announced at the annual media conference on March 9, 2007. 

12/12/06 Sika acquires Proxan Dichtstoffe GmbH in Germany
Acquisition rounds out Sika's system for "bonded windows"
Sika is acquiring Proxan Dichtstoffe GmbH. The German company, located in Greiz, Thuringia, is a manufacturer of sealants for the production of insulated glass and for construction joints. The parties agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
Proxan develops, produces and sells sealants made from polysulfide and two-component-polyurethane. The company is staffed by 13 employees.
With the acquisition of Proxan Sika augments its technologies, particularly in sealants for the production of insulated glass. Proxan's know-how and products enable Sika to supply a complete, coordinated system to the rapidly growing market of "bonded windows". Proxan's polysulfide-based joint sealants ideally complement Sika's range of products.