Barentz Buys France’s Unipex
Dutch-based multinational distributor Barentz will acquire Unipex, a French-headquartered distributor of life science and specialty chemicals, for an undisclosed sum. The purchase of the Paris-based group strengthens Barentz’ presence in France and immediately complements its European network. It also provides a stepping stone for Barentz in North Africa.
Hidde van der Wal, CEO of Barentz, said the acquisition, which remains subject to the usual closing conditions and regulatory clearance, brings new business opportunities on both a local and regional level.
As well as Paris, Unipex has commercial offices in Brussels and Casablanca, and employs more than 80 staff. It supplies specialty ingredients to markets in France, Benelux, Maghreb and Sub-Saharan Africa. Barentz said the current management team will remain in charge.
This latest acquisition adds to three others agreed in past weeks. Earlier in March, Barentz bought Distribuciones Industriales Variadas (Divsa) a leading distributor of life science ingredients and specialty chemicals in Central America, saying the move represented “the ideal fit” to bridge its presence in North and South America. Headquartered in Guatemala City, Divsa has locations across Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama.
In early February, Barentz acquired Grasse Aromas e Ingredientes, a Brazilian distributor of flavor and nutrition ingredients for the human nutrition and pharmaceutical industries, while in January it purchased unspecified assets of Chemcel, a distributor of specialty ingredients for the Mexican pharmaceutical and nutrition markets.
