27.04.2016 • NewsAdventCrop ProtectionElaine Burridge

Advent Takes Mexico’s Viakem

Private equity investor Advent International has agreed to buy Mexican fine chemicals producer Viakem for an undisclosed sum. Family-owned Viakem is Latin America’s sole custom and toll manufacturer of crop protection chemicals. It has a manufacturing plant in Monterrey, Mexico, which Advent said is the country’s industrial heart and an important technological development center.

Advent’s managing director and head of Mexico, Luis Solórzano, said Viakem’s track record and optimal geographic location provide competitive advantages compared with other manufacturers while strong fundamentals in the crop protection industry give a solid platform for growth.

“We believe the agrochemicals market will enjoy healthy growth based on the macroeconomic trends of increasing population and wealth, as well as the need to increase resource efficiency,” he said.

Emilio Assam Helú, Viakem’s CEO, added that Advent’s resources and expertise will contribute to its long-term business plan, through a focus on customer service and enhanced R&D, as the company enters new product markets and expands its leading position in Latin America and globally. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2016.

Recent investments by Advent in the chemicals and materials industry include GTM, Allnex, Maxam, Mondo Minerals, Oxea and H.C. Starck.

Free Virtual Event

Sustainability in Bioprocessing
Bioprocess Forum

Sustainability in Bioprocessing

Join us to explore hot topics in sustainable bioprocessing like the industrial potential of enzymatic synthesis, innovative biocatalysis techniques, and the use of digital twins in bioprocessing.

Interview

Specialty Chemicals in a Shifting World
Adapting to Tariffs and Strengthening Regional Networks

Specialty Chemicals in a Shifting World

Jennifer Abril, President & CEO of SOCMA, discusses the impact of new tariffs and the importance of regional supply networks in the specialty chemical industry.