OVER 40 YEARS OF HISTORY

Chemicals and Life Sciences
M&A Director

Q1 2020

The newsletter for M&A and corporate development directors
of mid-market chemicals and life sciences businesses
Dear Reader,

Welcome to the inaugural issue of our quarterly 'Chemicals and Life Sciences M&A Director' newsletter! 

This newsletter is aimed at strategic decision-makers interested in the lower and mid-market chemicals and life sciences sectors. To us this includes fine and life science contract services, specialty chemicals and advanced materials, and supporting specialist distribution and supply businesses. 

Our research team tracks mergers and acquisitions (M&A), fund raising, and senior personnel change announcements in these sectors to bring you a quarterly summary of key corporate activity. Our aim is to deliver an impartial quarterly briefing so we provide links to some of the best third party articles we have seen, as well as insights from specialists within our own network.

Hopefully this newsletter provides some interesting reading, particularly useful perhaps if we are all to be stuck in our home offices!

Lastly, we're excited to introduce the sister-event to this newsletter, the 'Better Inorganic Growth' conference. A focused event aimed at exploring buy and build strategies in the lower-mid market chemicals and life sciences sectors. This year to be held in London on 18 June (coronavirus allowing). Please save the date!

Wishing you all health and happiness during these turbulent times.

Matt Dixon, CCD Partners

Featured Article

Can you reliably “beat the market” when selling a chemicals or life sciences business?

Selling a lower-mid market privately-owned chemicals or life sciences businesses at above-market values can be done, but requires careful execution of a three-point strategy.

Here's how it's done.
Read more

Deal Summary

Our focus is on the smaller deals that tend to be less reported in major publications. We have tracked more than 50 such M&A transaction announcements in the last quarter. 

Our top six deals from this quarter are:
Target Buyer Seller Target Sector Synopsis / Title Link to Source
Alcami Weert site MercachemSyncom Alcami Fine and Life Sciences Contract Services MercachemSyncom Closes Acquisition of Alcami Weert in the Netherlands Source
Charnwood Molecular Synova Capital Private Fine and Life Sciences Contract Services Synova invests in UK CRO Charnwood Molecular Source
Chemark Oqema Private Specialist Chemical Distribution and Supply Oqema Acquires Denmark’s Chemark Source
Megafarma Azelis Private Specialist Chemical Distribution and Supply Azelis closes the acquisition of Megafarma in Mexico Source
Wilshire Technologies Evonik Private Specialty Chemicals and Advanced Materials Evonik acquires US based phytochemical company Wilshire Technologies Inc. Source
Borchers Group Milliken & Company The Jordan Company Specialty Chemicals and Advanced Materials Milliken & Company Finalizes Borchers Acquisition Source

View full list

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Key Appointments

We track the career movement of senior executives instrumental in shaping strategic organisational development through transformative transactions or other means. We have tracked more than 30 such career moves in the last quarter. 

Our top six moves from this quarter are:
Name From To Role Link to Source
Albert F. Beninati Jr W.R. Grace & Co PQ Corporation President Source
Robert King Nutrien PPG VP, Global Operations, Industrial Segment Source
Bart Welten Centrient Pharmaceuticals Avantium CFO Source
Ashok Kalyana Tate & Lyle Ashland SVP and General Manager, Life Sciences Source
Roeland Baan Outokumpu Haldor Topsoe CEO Source
Norbert Winkeljohann PWC Bayer Chairman of Supervisory Board Source

View full list

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Partner Insights

ANIL VAIDYA

Strategic Consultant

Is pharma’s innovation model the right approach for the chemical industry?

Fifteen to twenty years ago pharma was struggling with a number of approaching patent expiries for their blockbuster drugs and sales were being threatened by the fast follower generics industry. Lack of innovation and failure to develop new drugs to replace those going off patent was seriously being questioned in boardrooms. 

Twenty years on and the pharma industry has completely changed its operating model because they had to adapt...
Read full article

SARAH HARDING

Scientific Communications Specialist

Business leaders in the chemicals space should be aware of the support offered by innovation accelerators in their fields, as demand for ever faster routes to market places them under new pressures.

Modern R&D models are being built on the integration of physical, chemical and computer sciences, and a commercial model that is increasingly played out within a framework of innovation across public, private and not-for-profit entities. 

Under this model, successful innovators are increasingly taking advantage of ‘innovation accelerators’ to develop, test and grow new ideas...
Read full article

Third Party Recommended Reading

How to build a more climate-friendly chemical industry
“The successful transformation of the chemical industry requires many building blocks and many hands – a team effort. In turn, the benefits will spread far beyond this sector, because chemistry is the starting point and the foundation for many value chains.”
Read more
How Dow Chemical keeps innovation on top
“Dow’s three-part technology and innovation strategy helps keep the company nimble and quick despite 117 years of growth.”



Read more
Circular & low carbon economy benefits EU chemical industry
“With the right framework in place in the EU, our industry can continue playing a key role in building a more sustainable future for all Europeans.”
Read more
2020 Chemical industry outlook:
Exploring chemical industry trends
“Attention to the coming disruptive forces associated with this century’s energy transition and sustainability imperatives is increasingly crucial alongside day-to-day positioning.”
Read more

'Better Inorganic Growth' Conference

'Better Inorganic Growth' is a conference and networking event dedicated to the topic of inorganic growth in the chemicals and life sciences industries.

An opportunity to network with other strategic decision-makers (typically CEOs, owners, and M&A Directors) and to hear from a panel of executives and investors with experience executing buy and build strategies and acquiring and integrating bolt-ons in these sectors.

Register for an invitation

Keep me posted

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For a more frequent update, our weekly top-five pick of global M&A and senior people moves is also available. To receive our "Chemical Highlights" updates please sign up here. 

For more content from expert voices in our corporate development community, as well as our own thoughts and viewpoints, visit our blog.

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