Aqueous emulsion of a polymodal multistage polymeric material, wherein: (i) at least 50% of the polymodal multistage polymeric material comprises the polymers of at least two polymerisation stages having a Tg difference of ≧20° C., more preferably ≧40° C., and most preferably ≧60° C.; (ii) at least 50% of the polymodal multistage polymeric material comprises the polymers of at least two polymerisation stages having a Dw differing by ≧50 nm, preferably ≧80 nm and more preferably ≧100 nm; and (iii) the means to form at least one of the differing Tg's in (i) and at least one of the differing Dw's in (ii) are carried out in different stages of the multistage polymerisation to form the polymeric material. The polymer emulsion is useful for protective coatings, printing inks, overprint lacquer formulations, polishes, varnishes, sealants, paint formulations and adhesives.