SPECIALTY & FINE CHEMICALS

Specialty & Fine Chemicals M&A

Natrium Capital’s scientific focus is central to its position at the forefront of corporate finance in the Specialty (Speciality) and Fine Chemicals sectors. We have been instrumental in helping many Specialty and Fine Chemicals businesses achieve their strategic Mergers and Acquisitions ambitions. Our team of bankers are also Chemists and Engineers and this is key to our detailed insight into the complexities of Speciality businesses. 

Specialty chemicals are products that are sold on the basis of how they perform. These are usually higher value products which are designed to have a specific effect. Specialty chemicals can be single chemical entities or more complex formulations, but often require complex technical support to assist with their usage.  Our bankers understand the importance of customer relationships and technical support for products throughout a transfer of ownership.

Fine chemicals are chemical intermediates which are used in the preparation of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, as well as in personal care, food additives and flavours, and fragrances. These are usually manufactured in highly-regulated batch processes, rather than continuous processes. Precise formulation and regulatory compliance are key. Our staff recognise the significance of consistent manufacturing processes and verifiable formulation as part of the regulatory processes. These are key in any transaction. 

By contrast, commodity chemicals are high volume, low value chemicals, where deliverability, price and volume are the main characteristics of a single order.

For a historical overview of the importance of chemistry read Who Needs Chemistry?

Specialty & Fine Chemicals Industry Sub-sectors

These are some of the key sectors of the Specialty & Fine Chemicals industry in which Natrium Capital advisors have assisted (click to expand):

Natrium Experience

With a predominance of Chemists and Engineers within the team, Natrium Capital is in an unrivalled position to understand the challenges and opportunities of transactions in the Specialty and Fine Chemicals sector. Continuity of customer service and technical know-how is crucial during a sale process.  Recent deals include the sale of Solvay’s North American and European Amphoteric Surfactant Business, a complicated deal to conclude during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to this, we also advised Nanocyl on the sale of its carbon nanotubes for battery materials business to Birla and Wilbur-Ellis on the merger of Connell, their Asian Specialty Chemicals distributor, with Caldic. This latter transaction was on behalf of an American seller, selling an Asian business to a European buyer – a transaction involving businesses on three continents.

Read more about our specific skills in this sector.

Drawing on the local market expertise of our international partners, Natrium Capital has significant global reach.