The pan-European speciality chemicals distributor will acquire S&D to strengthen its Life Science business serving the personal care, pharmaceutical and food industries.
Joris Coppye, CEO of Azelis said: “This acquisition is one of the biggest in the entire Azelis history and is of significant strategic importance. S&D will give Azelis a leading position in Personal Care and Pharma in the CEE region, including the CIS countries.”
Consolidation in India and China
Coppye continued to explain that the acquisition will support the consolidation of Azelis’ Indian distribution business, which is mainly chemicals and plastic polymers, with the addition of Life Science activities, as well as complementing the company’s existing sourcing and distribution activities in China.
“Last but not least the acquisition of S&D is an important step change towards globalisation through the access to new markets such as Canada, Australia, Middle East and Africa,” he added.
Good strategic opportunity
S&D also see the deal as a good opportunity for it to ensure a strategic position across Europe, create synergies and expand its distribution network for the benefit of suppliers and customers.
“Azelis is a company with a dynamic reputation in the market and is therefore the best platform to expand the operations of S&D in speciality chemical distribution,” said Peter Straus, co-founder and owner of the S&D Group.
“This is a further major step in the growth story of S&D and I am happy that the company will soon have a new home within a strong group that shares the same core values. The retained businesses will continue to operate and expand under their current management.”
S&D Pharma and Chemgo - its chemical synthesis and laboratory supply market, and part of S&D’s personal care businesses - will not be included in the acquisition and will remain under their original ownership.