The Deal
The acquisition of Kemetyl’s Industrial Chemicals division will allow Univar to expand its leading position in pharma and strengthen its expertise in water treatment in the Nordic region amid steadily rising demand for sustainable development in the chemical industry and a growing trend towards the recycling of chemical products. At the same time, the transaction is in line with Kemetyl’s restructuring efforts over the past few years, focussing on its consumer chemicals business, which includes car care as well as home & garden products. The disposal of the Industrial Chemicals division to Univar creates new growth opportunities for Kemetyl and will free up capital and resources that can be invested in the area of consumer chemicals in the future.
The Target
Kemetyl’s Industrial Chemicals division is among the leading distributors of chemical products in the Nordic region, generating approximately $ 30 million in annual sales. Its product portfolio includes bulk and specialty chemicals, such as isopropanol, glycols, metal salts, minerals and polyacrylamides, which are provided to customers in Sweden and Norway. The business is also one of the largest suppliers of industrial grade alcohols in the region, including its proprietary brand Sekundol, a competitive, sustainable and innovative product that is used as a carbon source in the wastewater treatment process and is derived from recycled ethanol from the pharmaceutical industry.
Client Statement
Ola Tengroth, owner and former CEO of Kemetyl, said: “The divestiture of Kemetyl Industrial Chemicals was an important and complex transaction for Kemetyl Group and enabled it to further focus on its core areas. After a careful selection process to find the most suitable adviser, we appointed MCF. We got valuable and very professional support from the dedicated MCF team throughout the entire process.”
About Kemetyl Group
The Kemetyl Group has rapidly become one of the largest companies in the area of consumer chemicals in Europe, generating a turnover of some € 150 million annually. Following a number of acquisitions, the company has grown to be a truly integrated and pan-European partner within the industry. Kemetyl employs 250 people and is present at 22 different locations in 18 European countries, including three own production sites and several contractor sites. The company’s product portfolio contains fluids and hardware, car care and accessories, hygiene and household products. Major products range from screen washes and coolants to fuels and cleaners, from window wipes to disinfectants, and from bulk chemicals to 50ml bottles and aerosols.
