Azelis on an acquisition spree

In the space of just over two weeks, Azelis, the world’s third largest chemical distributor, has made five acquisitions in four different regional markets. This followed up on two made the previous month as the company spreads its wings across the globe. All of the deals are expected to close in Q3.

The most recent buy was Chemical Partners and Chempart Polymers, a distributor of speciality chemicals in Africa and the Middle East. This firm is based in Lebanon and Belgium, with particularly strengths in the coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers (CASE) and rubber and plastic additives. The buy also expands Azelis’ geographical footprint as Chemical Partners is present in over 30 countries across the Middle East and Africa.

Also in the Middle East, Azelis has agreed to acquire the speciality lubricant distribution assets of Turkey’s Ak-tas, including its oil business and the base oil distribution business of its Whitechem subsidiary. Azelis said that these two acquisitions will strengthen its lateral value chain in industrial chemicals in the EMEA wider region of following the acquisition of Umongo in Africa earlier this year.

Shortly beforehand, Azelis took a majority stake in ROCSA, one of the largest speciality chemical distributors in Colombia, with a rapidly growing presence in Peru and Central America. It has 130 employees and four offices across the region, and is active in food and nutrition, personal care, home care, industrial cleaning, CASE and plastic additives.

Azelis is also taking a majority of Ashapura Aromas, a distributor of flavours & fragrances (F&F) ingredients in India. The company said that this provides it with a strong F&F platform in Asia and completes a global network after the acquisitions of Vigon in the US and Quimdis in France last year. Mumbai-based Ashapura represents over 225 principals and has over 900 customers. Its 100+ employees will join Azelis, along with founders and owners Ajaykiran and Nayan Gudka, who will remain to lead the business post-integration.

Shortly before this, Azelis had acquired Chemo India and Unipharm Laboratories. Both are local distributors of speciality chemicals and ingredients for the pharmaceutical, CASE, lubricants and metalworking markets. The two firms are based in Mumbai and have four sites in Bhiwandi. Owners Amit Shah and Jigar Shah will continue to lead them.

Finally, Azelis has concluded a distribution agreement with Seqens Advanced Cosmetics, under which it will distribute Seqens’ acyl chlorides for use in cosmetic active ingredients and perfumes in France and the Benelux countries. The two are already partners in other areas of personal care.