Sojitz Acquires Majority Shares in Nippon A&L
Sojitz, Sumitomo Chemical, and Mitsui Chemicals have concluded a share purchase agreement in which Sojitz will acquire Nippon A&L.
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
PCI Pharma Services Acquires Ajinomoto Althea
PCI Pharma Services has completed its acquisition of Ajinomoto Althea, a CDMO subsidiary of Ajinomoto.
Roquette Acquires IFF Pharma, Reorganizes into Two Business Groups
Roquette completes IFF Pharma Solutions acquisition and unveils new structure for global growth and innovation.
Merck to Acquire US Biopharma Company SpringWorks Therapeutics
Merck and biopharmaceutical company SpringWorks Therapeutics, have entered into a definitive agreement for Merck to acquire SpringWorks.
Strategic Value Partners and Blantyre Capital Acquire OQ Chemicals
Strategic Value Partners (SVP) and Blantyre Capital Limited (Blantyre) recently announced the acquisition of OQ Chemicals (Oxea), a leading global producer and merchant of oxo chemicals.
HAS Acquires Cerbios-Pharma
HAS Healthcare Advanced Synthesis (HAS) recently announced the planned acquisition of Cerbios-Pharma (Cerbios), a globally recognized manufacturer of chemical and biological APIs, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
Ineos Energy Acquires Oil & Gas Assets from CNOOC
The completion of the deal marks the third major investment by Ineos Energy in the USA in the past three years. It increases Ineos' capital spending on energy assets in the USA to above $3 billion.
Sun Pharma to Acquire Checkpoint Therapeutics
Indian generic drug maker Sun Pharma agreed to acquire US immunotherapy and targeted oncology company Checkpoint Therapeutics for an upfront value of $355 million. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025 and is subject to customary closing conditions.
Rio Tinto Completes Acquisition of Arcadium Lithium
Rio Tinto has completed the $6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium and is now the parent company of Arcadium Lithium, which will be renamed Rio Tinto Lithium and will also include the Rincon Lithium Project.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals to Acquire Chimerix for $935 Million
Ireland’s Jazz Pharmaceuticals signed an agreement to acquire its compatriot Chimerix for approximately $935 million. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025.
ADNOC and OMV to Create Global Polyolefins Group
OMV and ADNOC agreed to combine their Borealis and Borouge shareholdings into Borouge Group International. ADNOC has also signed a share purchase agreement with Nova Chemicals, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, to acquire 100% of Nova Chemicals for an enterprise value of $13.4 billion. In addition, ADNOC and OMV have agreed for Borouge Group International to take over Nova Chemicals after closing.
WE Soda Buys Soda Ash Producer Genesis Alkali
WE Soda has acquired Genesis Alkali (Alkali), the largest US-based producer of natural soda ash, from Genesis Energy in an all-cash transaction for $1.425 billion.
Granules India Buys Swiss CDMO Senn Chemicals
Indian pharmaceutical company Granules India has agreed to acquire Senn Chemicals, a Swiss-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in peptides. The closing of the deal, which is subject to certain conditions, is expected to occur in the first half of 2025. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Pritzker Private Capital Acquires Majority Stake in Americhem
US investment company Pritzker Private Capital (PPC) has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Americhem, a family-owned US manufacturer of custom color masterbatch, performance additive and engineered compound solutions.
FibroGen Sells Chinese Subsidiary to AstraZeneca
US-based biotechnology company FibroGen announced the sale of its China subsidiary to AstraZeneca for approximately $160 million.
Sanofi and CD&R Sign Share Purchase Agreement for Opella
Following completion of the required social and corporate procedures, Sanofi and CD&R have signed the share purchase agreement for the sale of a 50% controlling stake in its consumer health business Opella to US private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R).
Novonesis Acquires Feed Enzyme Alliance Share from DSM-Firmenich
Novonesis has reached an agreement with its partner DSM-Firmenich to dissolve the Feed Enzyme Alliance and take over its sales and distribution activities, for a total cash payment of €1.5 billion. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.
Novartis to Acquire Anthos Therapeutics
Swiss drugmaker Novartis has agreed to acquire Anthos Therapeutics, a Boston, US-based biopharmaceutical company with its lead compound abelacimab, a late-stage medicine in development for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Bain to Acquire Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma for $3.3 Billion
US private equity company Bain Capital has agreed to acquire Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp. (MTPC) from Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corp. in a deal that values the business at approximately 510 billion Japanese yen ($3.3 billion).
Jabil Acquires CDMO Pharmaceutics International
Jabil, a global provider of engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions, has acquired Pharmaceutics International (Pii), a US contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in early-stage, clinical, and commercial volume aseptic filling, lyophilization, and oral solid dose manufacturing. Financial details of the transaction, which was completed on Feb. 3, 2025, were not given.
Sage Therapeutics Rejects Biogen’s Takeover Offer
Sage Therapeutics announced that its board of directors has unanimously rejected the proposal it received from Biogen on Jan. 10, 2025, to acquire all outstanding shares of Sage not already owned by Biogen for $7.22 per share, representing an equity value of about $469 million.
Johnson & Johnson to Acquire Intra-Cellular Therapies
Johnson & Johnson and Intra-Cellular Therapies recently entered into a definitive agreement under which Johnson & Johnson will acquire all outstanding shares of Intra-Cellular Therapies, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics for central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
Grupa Azoty Nears Sale of Polyolefins Business to Orlen
Grupa Azoty and Orlen have agreed to continue to work on the terms of a potential transaction whereby Orlen – or another entity designated by Orlen – would acquire all or a portion of the shares currently held by Grupa Azoty in Grupa Azoty Polyolefins or otherwise execute the investment.
Barentz Strengthens DACH Position With NCD Ingredients Acquisition
Barentz, a global specialty ingredients provider, recently announced the acquisition of NCD Ingredients, a specialty, personal, and home care ingredients distributor active in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH). The acquisition enhances Barentz’s presence in the DACH region, with a particular focus on Germany—the second-largest personal care market in EMEA.
IMCD Acquires Life Science Business of YCAM in South Korea
IMCD, a global distribution and formulation partner of specialty chemicals and ingredients, has agreed to acquire the personal care and pharmaceutical business of YCAM, a distributor based in South Korea.
GSK May Acquire Cancer Specialist IDRx for $1 Billion
In a move to expand its oncology business, GSK is nearing a $1 billion deal to buy a US biotech developing a treatment for rare gastrointestinal tumors.
Ashland to Sell Avoca to Mane
Ashland recently announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Avoca business to Mane. The transaction is expected to close in the calendar first quarter 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Merck & Co. Acquires Vaccine Site in Ireland from WuXi
As part of its long-term plans in the country, US drugmaker Merck & Co., operating as MSD outside of North America, has acquired WuXi Biologics’ site in Dundalk, Ireland, for about $500 million. The deal was announced through Ireland’s Foreign Direct Investment Agency (IDA) and MSD’s Ireland unit.
Immedica to Acquire Biopharma Company Marinus
Stockholm, Sweden-headquartered global rare disease company Immedica Pharma has agreed to acquire Marinus Pharmaceuticals, a US commercial-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapies for seizure disorders, for enterprise value of approximately $151 million.
Hutchmed to Divest Stake in Joint Venture for $608 Million
China’s Hutchmed has agreed to divest its 45% equity interest in Shanghai Hutchison Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (SHPL) for approximately $608 million (4,478 million renminbi) in cash, to China-based private equity firm GP Health Service Capital and Shanghai Pharmaceuticals.
AbbVie to Buy Nimble Therapeutics for $200 Million
US biopharma AbbVie has signed an agreement to acquire US biotechnology company Nimble Therapeutics, including its lead asset, an investigational oral peptide IL23R inhibitor in preclinical development for the treatment of psoriasis and a pipeline of other novel oral peptide candidates with potential across several autoimmune diseases.
Navigating the Future of Chemical Distribution
In 2024, the chemical distribution industry is at a pivotal moment, navigating both challenges and new opportunities. As distributors grapple with a landscape shaped by shifting global trade routes, demand constraints, and digital disruption, their roles are evolving far beyond traditional bulk breaking.
H.B. Fuller to Further Focus Portfolio
H.B. Fuller Company, the largest pure-play adhesives company in the world, recently announced that it has signed agreements to acquire two leading medical adhesive technology companies, GEM S.r.l. and Medifill Ltd.
Arkema Acquires Dow's Flexible Packaging Laminating Adhesives Business
Arkema recently finalized the acquisition of Dow’s flexible packaging laminating adhesives business. This acquisition will significantly expand Arkema's portfolio of solutions for flexible packaging, positioning the company as a key player in this attractive market.
Roche to Buy Poseida Therapeutics for $1.5 Billion
Roche has entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Poseida Therapeutics, a US clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing donor-derived CAR-T cell therapies, in a deal valued at approximately $1.5 billion.
GlobalData
HSH Chemie GmbH
Barentz
The Valence Group
Curia
Deloitte
Roche Group
Ofichem Group
Managm. Consult. Chemicals
DistriConsult GmbH
EvaluatePharma
Wacker Chemie
Kearney
Bilfinger SE
Universität Hohenheim - Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik
Umicore AG & Co. KG
Safic-Alcan
Zeta GmbH
Rhodia Europe
Bio-Rad Laboratories
BASF SE
Alkermes
Ineos
OneSource Specialty Pharma Limited
Syensqo
Sumitomo Chemical
Kolb Distribution Ltd.
Arkema
KPMG
Perstorp Holding AB
LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
Accenture
The Dow Chemical Company
Lonza AG
IDT Biologika GmbH
AkzoNobel
Covestro
Asahi Kasei Europe
Azelis Corporate Services NV
AbbVie Inc.
Roquette
Frost & Sullivan
Kemira Oyj
Nova Chemicals
HAS Healthcare Advanced Synthesis SA
Süd Chemie
Biogen Inc.
Solenis LLC
Simon-Kucher & Partners Strategy & Marketing Consultants GmbH
Lincoln International