As it sheds more commodity-oriented products in its plastics portfolio, French specialty chemicals producer Arkema has announced plans to acquire Agiplast, an Italian compounder regarded as a leader in the regeneration of high performance polymers, in particular specialty polyamides and fluoropolymers. The deal is expected to close next month.
AstraZeneca’s agreement to acquire Alexion Pharma for $39 billion, sealed in December 2020 and approved by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in April 2021, may not be a done deal after all. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced on May 25 that it has launched an anti-competition investigation into the transaction.
French specialty chemicals producer Arkema said it plans to acquire Edge Adhesives Texas, as “a complementary asset” that will boost subsidiary Bostik’s offerings in high performance adhesives in the US. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Analysis of the mergers & acquisitions activity in chemical distribution under the impression of the pandemic situation and how it might develop going forward.
In a nutshell, reaching sustainability has become a key aspect for chemical companies and adjacent businesses along the product chain with a high entry hurdle for everyone.
US specialty chemicals company Element Solutions has paid about $60 million in cash to buy H.K Wentworth (HKW), a UK-based producer of electro-chemicals for the electronics, LED, automotive and industrial manufacturing industries.
US specialty materials company Eastman Chemical has acquired 3F Feed & Food, a Spanish company specializing in the development of additives for animal feed and human food. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The newly acquired business will become part of Eastman’s Additives & Functional Products segment.
US pharma giant Pfizer has acquired privately owned Amplyx Pharmaceuticals for an undisclosed sum. With the purchase of the clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based at San Diego, California, the New York drugmaker will expand its anti-infectives pipeline with addition of novel antifungal Phase 2 candidate, Fosmanogepix (APX001).
Russian companies Sibur and TAIF are merging their petrochemical businesses in a move they said will create one of the world’s top five producers of polyolefins and rubber products. The merger, which remains subject to regulatory approval and the completion of relevant corporate procedures, could be finalized by the end of this year.
Australian companies Orocobre and Galaxy Resources have agreed to a “merger of equals” that they said would create the world’s fifth-largest manufacturer of lithium chemicals. The deal, valued at A$4 billion, has been unanimously approved by the boards of both companies and is expected to complete by August 2021.
UK specialty chemicals company Elementis has been the subject of another attempted takeover – its fourth in under six months – but this time from US rival, Innospec.
US industrial gases specialist Air Products has bought the remaining 50% equity stake in a gasification technology joint venture it picked up in the 2019 acquisition of GE’s gasification business and technology. Financial terms of the arrangement with China Shenhua Coal to Liquid and Chemical Co., part of China Energy Group, were not disclosed.
Virtual specialty materials manufacturer Aceto has acquired A&C, a producer of specialty excipients, buffers and process solutions, for an undisclosed sum.
US private equity group One Rock Capital Partners has completed its acquisition of UK plastics distributor Distrupol from US chemicals distributor Univar – the plans were announced in late January. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Novozymes has acquired Biota’s microbiome R&D team and data science platform for an undisclosed sum. The move builds on two previous deals in the microbiome field this past year, notably of US-based Microbiome Labs and Ireland’s PrecisionBiotics.
Amgen is to buy Five Prime Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech focused on developing immuno-oncology and targeted cancer therapies, for about $1.9 billion. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter, when a wholly owned subsidiary of Amgen will merge with Five Prime.
US plastics additives and colorants manufacturer Milliken has acquired Zebra-chem, a globally-focused chemical producer based at Bad Bentheim, Germany. The German company specializes in chemical blowing agents as well as peroxide masterbatches that enable plastics producers to incorporate up to 100% recycled content into new plastics.
Dutch distributor Barentz has acquired a majority stake in the Noack Group, extending its activities in the Central/East European region and gaining a complementary portfolio of animal nutrition ingredients.
PQ Group has agreed to sell its Performance Chemicals business for $1.1 billion to a partnership established by Cerberus Capital Management and Koch Minerals & Trading. The divestment is part of PQ’s strategy, called Simpler + Stronger, which the group said is aimed at driving greater value for its shareholders.
Irish CDMO ICON is to acquire US-based rival PRA Health Sciences in a cash-and-stock deal worth approximately $12 billion. Both boards of directors have unanimously approved the merger.
Danish coatings manufacturer Hempel has agreed to buy Wattyl, an Australian and New Zealand producer of architectural and protective paints and coatings, from owner Sherwin-Williams. Financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to close by the end of March, were not disclosed.
The Belgian cities of Antwerp and Bruges have agreed to merge their respective ports, with the former taking an 80.2% share in the combined port and Bruges taking 19.8%. The merger remains subject to a number of conditions, including approval from Belgian competition authorities.
Germany’s Lanxess has signed a binding agreement to acquire 100% of Emerald Kalama Chemical from affiliates of private equity firm American Securities. The US specialty chemicals producer focused mainly on consumer markets last reported sales of $425 million and EBITDA pre-exceptionals of $90 million. Closing is expected in the second half of 2021, subject to regulatory approval.
China contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) WuXi STA has agreed to buy Bristol Myers Squibb’s manufacturing facility in Couvet, Switzerland, for an undisclosed sum. The site will be WuXi STA’s first facility in Europe. The transaction is expected to complete during the second quarter, subject to the usual conditions and regulatory approvals.
Ireland-based multinational drug company Jazz Pharmaceuticals is to buy UK biopharma GW Pharma for $7.2 billion, creating a leader in neuroscience. The boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.
AkzoNobel has conceded defeat in its bid to buy Tikkurila, leaving the way clear for US rival PPG Industries to continue with its acquisition of the Finnish paints and coatings company.
German chemical producer Wacker Chemie is acquiring 100% of San Diego, California- headquartered CDMO Genopis from its two South Korean owners, Helixmith and Medivate Partner, both based in Seoul.
Indian aroma chemicals producer Eternis has acquired the UK’s Tennants Fine Chemicals and its wholly owned subsidiaries in Singapore and Shanghai, China, for an undisclosed sum. The deal is Eternis’ first acquisition outside of India.
DuPont has agreed to sell its Clean Technologies business for $510 million to an international private equity consortium, comprising BroadPeak Global, Asia Green Fund and The Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company (Dussur).
Brenntag has strengthened its water treatment business in the UK with the acquisition of ICL Packed, its second purchase this year so far. Financial terms of the deal, which was signed and closed on the same day, were not disclosed.
In a move to strengthen its market position in Austria and expertise in specialties, Oqema has acquired a majority share in Austria-based CB Chemie.
Italy’s Angelini Pharma has entered into an agreement to acquire Swiss biopharma Arvelle Therapeutics in an all-cash transaction worth up to $960 million. The first $610 million will be paid following regulatory clearance of the deal, with a further $350 million paid if Arvelle’s epilepsy treatment cenobamate achieves certain revenue targets.
Logistics service provider H.Essers, currently active in 19 countries from 77 locations, is in advanced negotiations for the acquisition of the logistics and transport activities of the Dutch Meeus Group.
Huntsman has agreed to sell its India-based Do-it-Yourself (DIY) consumer adhesives business, part of its Advanced Materials division, to Mumbai-based Pidilite Industries.
Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has agreed to buy US drug delivery company Emisphere Technologies for $1.8 billion.
