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.

German- and Swiss-based CABB Group is to create a new unified organisation called ‘One CABB’. As part of this the Custom Manufacturing and Acetyls business units will be combined. “Both units serve overlapping customer bases while utilising similar technologies in their production,” the firm said.

“Through the change to ‘One CABB’ we will gain speed and efficiency and thus strengthen our position as one of the premier contract development and manufacturing companies,” added CEO Valerie Diele-Braun (pictured).

Distributor IMCD has agreed to acquire Megasetia Agung Kimia, which it said “provides a significant platform for further growth in the life science segments in Indonesia”. This will take place in two tranches, with 70% being bought now and the rest in 2025. Closing is expected in December.

BASF is to sell its kaolin minerals business, which is part of the Performance Chemicals division and is regarded as non-core, to Georgia-based minerals company KaMin. This is expected to close in 2H 2022, subject to approval by the relevant merger control authorities. The business employs about 440 people and had sales of around €155 million in 2020.

Together with Jinan Shengquan Group, Biosynth Carbosynth is to buy Kexing Biopharmaceutical’s raw material factory in Jinan, China. The facility covers over 30,000 m² over five floors, with a demo workshop and a large warehouse including advanced storage of dangerous material.

Robert Smith of Pricefx looks at how a sector that is not traditionally price-driven can cope in a world of price volatility

CDMO Hovione used CPhI Worldwide 2021 in Milan to announce plans to invest $170 million over the years 2020-2022 to expand both capacities and capabilities at three sites in Portugal, Ireland, and New Jersey. About 300 jobs will be created as a result. These reflect its increasing focus on spray drying, high potency and particle engineering.