Barentz Buys US Distributor Viachem
Dutch life science ingredients distributor Barentz has acquired Viachem, a US-based company that distributes specialty chemicals, food additives and ingredients.
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Flexible Solutions and Lygos End Merger Plans
North American biochemical companies Flexible Solutions (FSI) and Lygos have called off their proposed merger. The companies did not give a reason for terminating the agreement, but said they remain committed to finding routes to sustainable aspartic acid and derivatives and would not let the end of their merger plans prevent them from working together in other ways.
Alexion Strengthens Genomics with LogicBio Buy
AstraZeneca’s rare disease arm Alexion has agreed to acquire LogicBio, a US clinical-stage specialist in genomic medicines.
Nouryon Expands Portfolio with ADOB Fertilizers Buy
Nouryon has agreed to buy ADOB Fertilizers, a Polish-based supplier of chelated micronutrients, foliars and other specialty fertilizers. The move will expand Nouryon’s product portfolio and broaden its offerings for customers in the crop nutrition market.
Azelis Acquires Italy’s Eurotrading
Azelis has entered into an agreement to buy Eurotrading, an Italian specialty chemicals distributor with an extensive product portfolio in actives, emollients and emulsifiers.
Roquette Acquires Indian Excipient Manufacturer
Roquette, a French-based provider of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical excipients, has acquired Crest Cellulose, an Indian excipient manufacturer, reinforcing its presence in India and Asia.
Hempel Buys Cap Couleurs Store Network
Danish coatings company Hempel has acquired Cap Couleurs’ store network in southeastern France, maintaining its segment leadership in the Var region and supporting its growth initiatives. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Henkel Buys NBD Nanotechnologies
Henkel has acquired US advanced materials start-up NBD Nanotechnologies for an undisclosed sum. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, NBD specializes in developing coatings and additives with surface wettability.
Stepan Buys Surfactants from PerformanX
US specialty chemicals company Stepan has agreed to acquire the surfactant business and associated assets of compatriot firm PerformanX Specialty Chemicals. The purchase will include intellectual property, commercial relationships and inventory.
Air Liquide Sells Saudi Industrial Merchant Business
French industrial gases group Air Liquide has announced the sale of its industrial merchant business in Saudi Arabia to Abdullah Hashim Industrial Gases & Equipment for an undisclosed sum.
Kemira Sells Colorants Dye Business to Chromascape
Kemira has agreed to sell its colorants dye business to Chromascape, a US-based specialty colorants and additives supplier.
India’s Calibre Buys RheinPerChemie from Evonik
Indian specialty chemicals company Calibre Chemicals has agreed to acquire RheinPerChemie (RPC) from Evonik. Based in Rheinfelden, Germany, RPC manufactures ammonium and sodium persulfates.
IMCD Buys Japan’s Kuni Chemical
IMCD has taken over Japanese specialty distribution company Kuni Chemical for an undisclosed sum. Kuni specializes in industrial applications that range from coatings and construction to automotive and packaging materials.
SK Closes Sale of NuCera Solutions to Chase
An affiliate of funds advised by SK Capital Partners has completed the sale of NuCera Solutions to international specialty chemicals company Chase Corp. for $250 million. The companies entered into the agreement on Jul. 18.
Technip Energies Buys DSM’s Biosuccinium Technology
French engineering and technology company Technip Energies has boosted its sustainable chemicals portfolio with the purchase of DSM’s biosuccinium technology. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Clariant Sells Quats to Global Amines
Clariant has agreed to sell its quats business to Singapore’s Global Amines for $113 million. Global Amines is a 50:50 joint venture between Clariant and Singapore-based agricultural and oleochemicals company Wilmar.
Novo Nordisk Boosts Blood Disorders with Forma Buy
Danish pharma Novo Nordisk has agreed to acquire US clinical-stage biopharma Forma Therapeutics in a deal worth $1.1 billion that will expand its blood disorders portfolio. Forma’s board of directors has unanimously approved the takeover, which is expected to close in the final quarter of 2022.
Germany’s LTS Lohmann Buys US CDMO Tapemark
Germany’s LTS Lohmann Therapie-Systeme has completed the acquisition of St. Paul, Minnesota-headquartered CDMO Tapemark, a US specialist in transdermal drug delivery systems, oral thin films and unit dose semi-solid drug and iontophoresis products.
Evotec Enhances Rare Disease Focus with Central Glass Buy
German CDMO Evotec is to acquire compatriot company Central Glass Germany from Japanese owner Central Glass for a nominal price of €1. The transaction, which remains subject to the usual closing conditions, is expected to complete on Nov. 1.
Ineos Phenol to Buy Mitsui Phenols Singapore
Ineos Phenol is paying $330 million to acquire Mitsui Phenols Singapore. With the deal, expected to close in the first quarter of 2023, subject to regulatory approval, it will add 1 million tonnes of annual capacity to its production volume. The business had sales of $750 million in 2021 and 120 employees, all of whom will transfer to the new owner.
Investindustrial Sells PVC Compounder Benvic to ICIG
European private equity group Investindustrial — through subsidiary PVC Europe — has agreed a sale of PVC compounder Benvic to International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG). However, it expects to retain Benvic’s medical activities in Italy.
Novartis Definitely Plans to Spin off Sandoz
Novartis has finally confirmed definite plans to spin off its generic drugs arm Sandoz.
IMCD Strengthens Americas Presence with PromaPlast Deal
IMCD has agreed to buy PromaPlast, a distributor of advanced materials serving markets in Mexico and the US. Terms of the transaction, which is expected to close in September, were not disclosed.
Azelis Makes Another Move in Turkey
Azelis has agreed to buy Turkish specialty chemicals distributor Dağalti Kauçuk San, marking its third acquisition in the country so far this year.
Solenis Expands Water Treatment Portfolio with Clearon Buy
US specialty chemicals company Solenis has entered into an agreement to buy Clearon, a compatriot manufacturer of sanitizers and disinfectants for water treatment and household, industrial and institutional applications. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Covestro Selling Additive Manufacturing to Stratasys
German engineering plastics producer Covestro has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Additive Manufacturing Business to US 3D printing specialist Stratasys for about €43 million. Closing of the deal is expected for the first quarter of 2023.
Sartorius to Acquire Albumedix for £415 Million
Göttingen, Germany-based life science group Sartorius, through its French-listed subgroup Sartorius Stedim Biotech, plans to acquire all shares of Nottingham, England’s Albumedix, a specialist in recombinant albumin-based solutions, for about £415 million.
Borealis Confirms Squeeze-Out Offer for Rosier
Borealis has confirmed its intention to launch a squeeze-out offer for Belgian fertilizer producer Rosier. It already held 77.5% of Rosier and raised its shareholding to 98.09% through a capital increase late last month.
Catalent to Buy Metrics Contract Services
CDMO heavyweight Catalent is acquiring compatriot Metrics Contract Services, a full-service specialty CDMO with a facility in Greenville, North Carolina, for $475 million. Mayne Pharma Group is the seller.
Gilead Buys Oxford Spin-out MiroBio
Gilead Sciences has agreed to acquire MiroBio, a privately held UK biotech focused on treating inflammatory diseases, for about $405 million in cash.
Amgen Takes ChemoCentryx for $3.7 Billion
Amgen is beefing up its inflammatory diseases portfolio with an agreement to buy US biopharma ChemoCentryx for roughly $3.7 billion. The deal gives Amgen access to vasculitis treatment Tavneos.
Pfizer to Pay $5.4 Billion for Global Blood Therapeutics
Pfizer is paying $5.4 billion to acquire Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT), a drugmaker specialized in treating blood disorders. It is one of several deals the company has inked recently to offset dwindling sales from its vaccine and therapeutics for Covid-19.
Barentz Acquires Volp in Brazil
The consolidation in the distribution sector continues. In the latest deal, Life Sciences distributor Barentz International has announced the acquisition of Volp Indústria e Comércio, a Brazilian distributor of supplies and solutions for the Personal Care sector.
Univar Buys Spanish Distributor Vicom
Univar Solutions has bought Vicom Distribución Productos Quimicos, a specialty chemicals distributor operating in Spain and Portugal, in its first acquisition of the year.
CSL Close to Finally Taking Control of Vifor
Australian biopharma CSL said this week it has received all the regulatory clearance required to take over Switzerland’s Vifor. The acquisition announced in December 2021 temporarily stalled in May 2022.
