Azelis acquires majority stake in Catalite in Thailand, strengthens Asia Pacific presence
17 Jan 2022 --- Specialty chemicals supplier Azelis has unveiled the acquisition of Catalite, “one of the fastest-growing” home and personal care and industrial chemicals distributors in Thailand. The move serves to strengthen Azelis’ foothold in the Asia Pacific region.
The financial details of the deal have not been revealed.
Laurent Nataf, CEO & president of Azelis Asia Pacific, refers to his home sector as a “high-growth” region.
“A strengthened presence in Thailand deepens our coverage in the Asia Pacific, which is one of the strategic priorities for the Group,” Nataf says.
The deal is set to close by the end of the first quarter of 2022, after all customary conditions will be fulfilled.
The acquisition means that all of Catalite’s 49 employees will be joining the Azelis team, with Catalite’s leadership remaining intact. Catalite CEO Udomlak Kootiratrakarn and CCO Vaivit Arkaresvimun will continue to guide Catalite’s operations.
Azelis has been active in Thailand since 2015. Growing together
Kootiratrakarn is enthusiastic about the news and says the acquisition will reinforce Catalite’s expertise. She also expressed that the Bangkok-based company will be able to further improve its formulation development, allowing Catalite to serve its customers even better than before under Azelis’ umbrella.
“Becoming part of a renowned international player will be beneficial for our company, customers and principals, with numerous opportunities for growth and great synergies for both companies,” Kootriatrakarn affirms.
For Azelis, like many companies, acquisition features prominently in their growth and global expansion strategy and is meant to complement and accelerate organic growth.
The acquisition of Catalite is the latest in a series of acquisitions by Azelis over the last 12 months. In July, the chemicals supplier announced the acquisition of France-based ingredients distributor Quimdis, strengthening its presence in France and the EMEA region.
That same July, Azelis acquired 100% shares in Coseal, a South Korea-based specialty distribution service. In December 2021, the company acquired Austria-based raw materials manufacturer Neupert Specialties.
Last July, EcoVadis awarded Azelis a Platinum rating, ranking it within the top 1% of the more than 85,000 companies the social responsibility monitor has evaluated. Azelis is joined by Firmenich, who was recently awarded EcoVadis’ Platinum ranking for the second consecutive time.
Edited by Olivia Nelson
