Germany-headquartered chemical distributor Harke Group announced that its subsidiaries Chemlink Specialities and Addi-Tec have merged and rebranded as Harke UK, effective Feb.1, 2024.
IMCD has appointed Natasha De Lange as managing director for South Africa, effective Feb. 1, 2024. She will be replacing Ryan Harrison, who will become managing director of Australia and New Zealand.
IMCD has appointed Fenna van Zanten, IMCD Group Director, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), and Andreas Igerl, President, IMCD APAC, as new members to its executive committee, effective Jan. 1, 2024.
On January 1, 2024, Anna Bertona will take on the role of Group CEO, succeeding Hans Joachim Müller, who will retire after serving more than 11 years in that role. Ralf Kempf asked Müller and Bertona about the foundations for the group's continued success and plans for its future strategic direction.
Lars Wallstein, IMCD’s Managing Director Germany, who was elected in September as President of FECC – the European Association of Chemical Distributors. He discusses current market trends and the organization's vision for the future of the sector.
By enhancing offerings, ensuring performance, managing costs, and embracing sustainability, distributors prove as essential partners for long-term success amidst evolving challenges.
German chemicals and ingredients distributor Brenntag has opened its new facility in Maurice, Louisiana, USA. Strategically positioned along the US Gulf Coast, the new site will be the primary operations hub for Coastal Chemical, a subsidiary of Brenntag, in addition to serving other areas in the region, the company said.
Azelis has agreed to acquire 100% of the shares of Agspec Australia, a leading distributor of crop nutrition, crop protection and specialty agricultural products in Australia. Financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2024 and is subject to customary closing conditions, were not disclosed.
DKSH has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Bio-Strategy, said to be the largest independent distributor of scientific instruments in Australia and New Zealand, with a focus primarily on life sciences, medical & healthcare and environment & agriculture.
Specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor Azelis has appointed Evy Hellinckx as CEO of Azelis EMEA, effective Jan. 1, 2024. She succeeds Anna Bertona, who will take on her new role as Azelis Group CEO at the beginning of next year.
US specialty ingredients and chemicals distributor Univar Solutions has acquired Canadian company FloChem and certain of its affiliates, giving Univar access to new market segments and new service capabilities. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Barentz has appointed Peter Boone as its new CEO, effective Oct. 1, 2023. He succeeds Hidde van der Wal, who is to retire after leading the company more than 20 years.
Rotterdam-based specialty chemicals distributor IMCD has agreed to acquire 100% of the shares of Sachs Chemical, headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Brenntag is to acquire Chinese distributor Shanghai Saifu Chemical Development for an undisclosed sum. The transaction is expected to close later this year.
Evonik has inked a new non-exclusive deal with compatriot ProductionToGo, covering distribution of the German specialty chemicals group’s 3D printing materials.
The Chinese chemical distribution market is very likely the largest in the world. To be successful in this competitive market, foreign distributors in particular need to consider some important aspects.
IMCD India has agreed to buy Tradeimpex Polymers (India), a distributor of high-performance polymers and engineering plastics. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2023.
Oqema has announced its acquisition of Stera Chemicals, one of the largest distributors of chemical raw materials in Romania.
In its second acquisition of the year so far, Azelis has agreed to buy Lidorr Elements, a leading Israeli specialty chemical distributor active in the crop protection, industrial materials and care & nutrition markets.
Specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor Azelis has acquired 100% of Benelux smoke ingredients distributor Smoky Light.
German distribution giant Brenntag is retreating from plans to acquire US rival Univar. The company said in an ad hoc statement that it is “no longer pursuing these discussions.”
Consolidation in the distribution sector continues apace. Specialty chemicals and food ingredients distributor Azelis has entered into an agreement to take over Chemiplas, a leading distributor of specialty chemicals, plastic raw materials and ingredients in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
Having survived the pandemic so far in good condition, chemical distributors are well positioned to grow, provided they understand how the rules for winning have changed. Distributors that keep their customers’ needs front and center will be best positioned to succeed, regardless of what the future brings.
Azelis has entered into an agreement to buy Eurotrading, an Italian specialty chemicals distributor with an extensive product portfolio in actives, emollients and emulsifiers.
Azelis has agreed to buy Turkish specialty chemicals distributor Dağalti Kauçuk San, marking its third acquisition in the country so far this year.
Univar Solutions has bought Vicom Distribución Productos Quimicos, a specialty chemicals distributor operating in Spain and Portugal, in its first acquisition of the year.
Dorothee Arns, Director General of FECC, discusses current challenges, market trends and her vision for the chemical distribution industry in Europe. The interview was conducted by Michael Reubold and Ralf Kempf.
The chemical distribution business is a diverse industry that provides customized solutions for important sectors such as pharmaceuticals, paints & coatings, agriculture, cosmetics, food & feed, and automotive. At the center of the supply chains of these sectors, distributors are critical partners for global corporations as well as for SMEs. This role has become particularly obvious and relevant during the corona crisis.
Mergers & acquisitions activity in the chemical distribution industry was high in 2021, but current macro-economic conditions may have a dampening effect on the number of deals that will conclude by the end of this year.
German distribution group Oqema has acquired Alpkem, a Slovenia-based firm with its main offices in Kranj. Oqema said the deal strengthens its inorganic product line and circular economy business, as well as its infrastructure in southeast Europe. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Dutch-based global distributor Barentz International, specializing in life science ingredients, has acquired unspecified assets of Chemcel, a distributor of specialty ingredients for the Mexican pharmaceutical and nutrition markets. Financial terms were not disclosed.
US private equity firm OpenGate Capital has bought two US chemical distributors in the space of a week. The first purchase on Jan. 11 was Chemsolv, a regional distributor of commodity and specialty chemicals headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia. The business was acquired from the Austin family, who continue to hold a stake.
IMCD China, part of Netherlands-headquartered globally active specialty chemicals distributor IMCD, has agreed to acquire all of Chinese personal care company Syntec to bolster its position in the personal care and cosmetics sector. Closing of the transaction, for which financial terms were not revealed, is planned to take place within the next five weeks.
Belgian-headquartered multinational distributor Azelis and its shareholders have raised €1.77 billion in an initial public offering (IPO) on the Euronext Brussels exchange. Azelis gets €880 million from the offering, while shareholders including private equity firm EQT and PSP Investments receive €891 million.
