Azelis acquiring UK rubber additives, CASE materials distributor

Antwerp, Belgium – Belgian chemicals distributor Azelis Holding SA is acquiring 100% of the shares of Whitfield Chemical Group Ltd, the parent company of UK distributor WhitChem.

Based in Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire, WhitChem is a “well-regarded” distributor focused on CASE (coatings, adhesives, sealants and elastomers) and R&PA (rubber & plastic additives) in the UK, Azelis said in a 16 March statement.

The purchase, it added, will reinforce Azelis' position in industrial chemicals, and specifically in the CASE and R&PA market segments in the country.

“WhitChem’s long-standing relationships with blue-chip principals and product portfolio strengthen Azelis’ lateral value chain in the UK,” it noted.

Furthermore, the company is expected to bring a wide customer base and a strong local technical sales team.

WhitChem employs 30 people and generates the vast majority of its sales in the UK, with some exports to Ireland.

Post-completion, WhitChem management will continue their roles at the company.

“We see many cross-selling opportunities with our complementary product portfolios,” said Charles Hawley, managing director at WhitChem.

CASE and R&PA, he went on to say, are “exciting markets that have seen significant growth of late.”

“We are eager to expand our product offering and innovative services to the combined customer base,” he concluded.