Chemicals and Life Sciences
M&A Director
M&A Director
Q3 2022
The newsletter for M&A and corporate development directors
of mid-market chemicals and life sciences businesses
of mid-market chemicals and life sciences businesses
Dear Reader,
Welcome to our latest newsletter.
As might be expected as a natural outcome from recent events in Ukraine, chatter in the M&A and private equity world is seeing a renewed focus on ESG-driven innovation, decarbonisation, and the move away from reliance on oil and gas. You will see this reflected in the articles we have highlighted below.
This theme also fits well with our latest podcast/interview with ex-international footballer Mathieu Flamini - now CEO of industrial biotech company GFBiochemicals. I hope you enjoy hearing his story!
Wishing everyone health and happiness,
Matt Dixon, CCD Partners
“Chemical Transformations Podcast: the art of unlocking sustainable commercial potential”
Episode 6: Mathieu Flamini
CCD Partners Managing Partner Matt Dixon speaks with former Arsenal and France footballer Mathieu Flamini, exploring his journey from professional sportsman to environmental entrepreneur as CEO and Co-Founder of GFBiochemicals, a pioneer in sustainable alternatives to oil-based products.
Audio-only podcast:
Deal Summary
Our focus is on the smaller private market deals that tend to be less reported in major publications. We have tracked more than 90 such M&A transaction announcements in the last quarter.
Our top six deals from last quarter are:
| Target | Buyer | Seller | Target Sector | Synopsis / Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faber & VanderEnde | Richard Baker Harrison | Private | Chemical Distribution and Support Services | Richard Baker Harrison continues with acquisition of Faber & VanderEnde B.V and Faber & VanderEnde GmbH. |
| Aubin Group | Italmatch Chemicals | BGF | Specialty Chemicals and Advanced Materials | Italmatch Chemicals acquires Aubin Group |
| Chemical Partners | Azelis | Private | Chemical Distribution and Support Services | Azelis acquires Chemical Partners |
| Bio-based industrial business | Cargill | Croda | Specialty Chemicals and Advanced Materials | Cargill to acquire Croda’s bio-based industrial business |
| Chemicals business | Bakelite Synthetics | Georgia-Pacific | Specialty Chemicals and Advanced Materials | Bakelite Synthetics acquires Georgia-Pacific chemicals business |
| Kappa Bioscience | Balchem | Verdane Edda | Fine Chemicals and Life Science Contract Services | Balchem acquires Kappa for $338 million |
View full list
Sign up to our weekly trackerKey Appointments
We track the career movement of senior executives instrumental in shaping strategic organisational development through transformative transactions or other means.
Our top five moves from last quarter are:
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ian Melling | Smith & Nephew | Victrex | CFO and Executive Director |
| Atanas Atanasov | Kraton Corporation | Lummus | CFO |
| Philipp Junge | LANXESS | OQEMA Group | COO |
| Laurent Nataf | Internal appointment | Azelis | Chief Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Officer |
| Richard Jackson | HSBC | SK Capital | Managing Director |
View full list
Sign up to our weekly trackerThird Party Recommended Reading
Our pick of recommended articles and generalist reports covering events, forecasts, large deals and broad macro trends in the wider chemicals and life sciences sectors.
Reducing carbon, fueling growth: Lowering emissions in the chemical industry
“To reduce industry carbon emissions, collaborating with partners across the chemical value chain will be crucial to developing holistic and sustainable solutions.”
For Chemical Companies, Emissions Reporting Is As Much An Opportunity As A Challenge
“Too often, the concept of businesses publicly reporting their greenhouse gas (GHG) and climate-related risks has been framed as a daunting, costly challenge whose success is only measured by whether investors and customers will still do business with a company after recognizing the environmental impacts of their production.”
The chemical industry The chemical industry’s new green deals
“For decades, major corporate decisions like shutting, divesting, acquiring, and spinning off businesses were motivated mainly by dollars and cents. Now, executives at such companies are increasingly weighing environmental impact—carbon footprint, in particular.”
ESG-driven innovation in the chemical industry
"Decarbonization challenges also present the chemical industry with a particularly powerful set of opportunities to position itself as a key partner in the sustainability-driven transformations of its customers’ industries."
