In the space of a few weeks, distributor Azelis has acquired Sirius International, a distributor of speciality chemicals in the Benelux market, and Gillco Ingredients, a speciality ingredients provider in the US. Terms were not disclosed in either case.

Led by founder and CEO Leo Verboeket, Sirus is active in environmentally friendly chemicals for the detergent, personal care and water treatment markets in Europe. Azelis said this complements its lateral value chain in home care and industrial cleaning.

Azelis has announced the opening of new laboratories within the space of a month. Each covers different applications and is located on different continent.

A new pharmaceuticals and healthcare application laboratory in Courbevoie, France, complements existing ones in the UK and Turkey, the company said. It is equipped to address challenges in areas such as API solubilisation and bioavailability, compliance, counterfeiting and misuse, and the optimisation of formulations and production processes.

Azelis has agreed to acquire Chemiplas Agencies, an Auckland-based distributor of speciality chemicals, plastic raw materials and ingredients in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. This is expected to close before the end of Q1 2023, after customary closing conditions are fulfilled.

In the space of just over two weeks, Azelis, the world’s third largest chemical distributor, has made five acquisitions in four different regional markets. This followed up on two made the previous month as the company spreads its wings across the globe. All of the deals are expected to close in Q3.

Two companies active in the speciality chemicals sector - chemicals distributor Azelis and Nouryon, the former chemicals division of AkzoNobel – have separately announced IPOs in recent weeks. Both are currently owned by private equity.

Azelis has agreed to acquire Quimdis, a French distributor of ingredients for flavours and fragrances (F&F), animal nutrition, personal care, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and food. Closing is expected to take place end of August. Terms were not disclosed. This company said that this strengthens it in “fast-growing and attractive markets, while also enhancing the position of Azelis France in the life science sector”.

Azelis has agreed to acquire Vigon International, a speciality distributor and manufacturer of ingredients for the flavours, fragrances and cosmetics markets. The deal should close within Q2 and the Somers family, who previously owned Vigon, will continue to lead it.