Solenis is to acquire BASF’s flocculants business for mining applications in a deal that should close within 2H 2024. Financial details are not being disclosed. Solenis had previously acquired BASF’s paper wet-end and water chemicals business in 2019.

Jacques Herber, Solenis’s CBO in EMEA and Asia said that brining the BASF sales team on board “will allow us to develop closer relationships with our customers by providing more solutions and added value to their operations and will eliminate supply agreements between BASF and Solenis.”

Solenis, which makes speciality chemicals for water-intensive industries, has made two acquisitions in the space of three days: Lilleborg, a Norwegian firm that supplies professional cleaning products, and Aqua ChemPacs, a Pennsylvania-based maker of concentrated liquid chemical packs. Terms were not disclosed in either deal.

Solenis is to invest $193 million to expand its operation in Suffolk, Virginia. It will build a 7,400 m² production facility, packaging facility and tank farm for polyvinylamine (PVAm) polymers and a rail spur. This will create 34 jobs. PVAm polymers are mainly used in paper and cardboard manufacturing.

“As demand rises for sustainable manufacturing operations, this new facility not only ensures we have capacity to supply the paper packaging market, it will also help us diversify into other applications that can drive additional growth,” said CEO John Panichella. 

Solenis has completed the previously announced acquisition of Diversey in an all-cash deal that gives Diversey an enterprise value of about $4.6 billion. The combined firm will have 71 manufacturing facilities, more than 15,000 employees and operations in over 130 countries. It will be majority-owned by Platinum Equity, with Bain Capital, which owned Diversey, keeping a minority stake.

Speciality chemicals manufacturer Solenis has agreed to buy cleaning, infection prevention and hygiene giant Diversey. The $4.6 billion all-cash deal should be completed in 2H, subject to approval by Diversey shareholders, and will remove Diversey from public ownership. Both boards have backed it.

Solenis has completed the acquisition of Lima-based Grand Invest Group, including all its production assets. This is the fifth add-on acquisition since Platinum Equity acquired Solenis itself in 2021, with more potentially to come. Terms were not disclosed.

Aided by $4 million in state grant funds, Solenis is to move its R&D operations to Building 713 at Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park (CRISP, pictured) in its home state of Delaware. This $40 million expansion comes “in response to increasing market demand for its sustainability-focused products and expertise and with an eye toward long-term growth”, the company said.