The present invention provides a bitumen composition including: --(i) from 0.1 to 25% wt of an elastomer, (ii) from 0.1 to 40% wt of a solvent, (iii) from 30 to 99% wt of a bitumen, (iv) from 0.1 to 30% wt of a lithium salt of a C.sub.10 C.sub.40 fatty acid or hydroxy fatty acid, and optionally (v) from 0 to 70% wt of a filler, all weights based on total bitumen composition, wherein the solvent is of general formula (I), ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 represents a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and the sum of the carbon atoms in R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is from 5 to 7; a process of preparing said bitumen composition and the use of the composition as a cold-applicable adhesive.