Business Description
Stepan Company, which was incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware
on February 19, 1959, and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) produce
specialty and intermediate chemicals, which are sold to other manufacturers
and used in a variety of end products. The Company has three reportable segments:
Surfactants, Polymers and Specialty Products.
Surfactants are chemical agents that affect the interaction between two surfaces;
they can provide actions such as detergency (i.e., the ability of water to remove
soil from another surface), wetting and foaming, dispersing, emulsification
(aiding two dissimilar liquids to mix), demulsification, viscosity modifications
and biocidal disinfectants. Surfactants are the basic cleaning agent in detergents
for washing clothes, dishes, carpets, fine fabrics, floors and walls. Surfactants
are also used for the same purpose in shampoos, body wash and conditioners,
fabric softeners, toothpastes, cosmetics and other personal care products. Commercial
and industrial applications include emulsifiers for agricultural products, emulsion
polymers such as floor polishes and latex foams and coatings, wetting and foaming
agents for wallboard manufacturing and surfactants for enhanced oil recovery.
Polymers, which include polyurethane polyols, polyester resins and phthalic
anhydride, are used in a variety of applications. Polyurethane polyols are used
in the manufacture of rigid foam for thermal insulation in the construction
industry. They are also a raw material base for coatings, adhesives, sealants
and elastomers (CASE) applications. Polyester resins, which include liquid and
powdered products, are used in CASE and polyurethane systems house applications.
Phthalic anhydride is used in polyester resins, alkyd resins, and plasticizers
for applications in construction materials and components of automotive, boating,
and other consumer products and internally in the Company’s polyols.
Specialty Products are chemicals used in food, flavoring, nutritional supplement
and pharmaceutical applications.
75.13 %