Advent buys distributor Caldic

Advent International, one of the world’s largest private equity investors, has agreed to buy Netherlands-based distributor Caldic from Goldman Sachs Asset Management in a deal that should close in 1H 2022. Terms were not disclosed.

Caldic is active in life sciences and speciality chemicals, employing around 1,200 people across 35 sites in Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific and turning over about €1 billion in 2020. Advent intends to merge it with its existing operation Grupo Transmerquim (GTM), one of only two chemical distributors to cover the whole of Latin America.

“As with all our investments, we pursue a long-term growth approach and intend to support Caldic throughout its next phase of growth,” said Ronald Ayles, global head of chemicals at Advent. “We see great prospects in the combination with GTM, nearly doubling the size of the New Caldic from the start.”

Advent added that it plans “to support the management team in its efforts to establish the combination as a strong global platform”. It envisages “substantially” investing in employees, technology and sites and “sees further growth potential through expansion and investment to strengthen the company’s already well-established market position”.