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.
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
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.
Novartis Acquires Kate Therapeutics for $1.1 Billion
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis has acquired Kate Therapeutics for $1.1 billion. The San Diego, US-headquartered preclinical stage biotechnology company develops adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies to treat inherited neuromuscular diseases.
ICIG Acquires European Advanced Organics Business from Valtris
International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG) has acquired the European Advanced Organics business from Valtris Specialty Chemicals. The transaction includes production plants in Tessenderlo, Belgium, and Maastricht, the Netherlands, as well as the benzyl chloride and derivatives portfolio manufactured at those sites.
Avid Bioservices to Be Acquired by GHO Capital and Ampersand
US-headquartered Avid Bioservices, a biologics-oriented CDMO, will be acquired by funds managed by GHO Capital Partners and Ampersand Capital Partners in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion. The three companies have signed a corresponding agreement.
Solenis Completes Acquisition of BASF’s Mining Flocculants Business
US specialty chemicals company Solenis has acquired BASF’s flocculants business for mining applications. With this strategic acquisition, Solenis enhances its portfolio for mining and mineral processing customers. The transaction, for which financial details were not disclosed, was first announced in July.
AbbVie to Buy US Biotech Firm Aliada for $1.4 Billion
US drugmaker AbbVie has signed an agreement to acquire biotechnology company Aliada Therapeutics, which develops therapies for central nervous system (CNS) diseases using a novel blood-brain barrier (BBB)-crossing technology to address challenging central nervous system (CNS) diseases.
LyondellBasell Completes Acquisition of Solvent-Based Recycling Company APK
LyondellBasell (LYB) has completed its acquisition of APK in Merseburg, Germany. The company will be fully integrated and continue as part of LYB. The deal was first announced in August of this year.
PPG to Sell US and Canada Architectural Coatings Business to American Industrial Partners
US paints and coatings group PPG has reached a definitive agreement to sell 100% of its architectural coatings business in the US and Canada to investor American Industrial Partners (AIP) for $550 million.
Sanofi in Talks to Sell Stake in Opella to CD&R
Sanofi has entered into talks with Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), a US-based investment company, about the potential sale of a 50% controlling stake in the French drugmaker‘s consumer healthcare business, Opella.
Lundbeck to Acquire Longboard Pharmaceuticals
Danish drugmaker Lundbeck has announced to acquire US company Longboard Pharmaceuticals in a deal valued at approximately $2.6 billion. Longboard, headquartered in La Jolla, California, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel medicines for neurological diseases.
Sudarshan Chemical Agrees to Acquire Heubach Group
Sudarshan Chemical Industries Limited (SCIL) recently announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with the Germany-based Heubach Group, on its acquisition in a combination of an asset and share deal. Sudarshan aims to expand its global presence and pigment portfolio across 19 sites to provide customers with a top-tier product range.
Specialty Pharma CDMO OneSource Recently Launched
OneSource Specialty Pharma, a newly incorporated CDMO, formed from the merger of three CDMO businesses within the Strides Group. The company has a 30-year track record and specializes in biologics, drug-device combinations, and soft gelatin capsules.
