Expanding Asia Pacific reach: Azelis acquires ChemSol, enters Malaysian cosmetic industry

18 Jul 2022 --- Azelis and Chemical Solutions Sdn Bhd (ChemSol), one of Malaysia’s top distributors of raw materials in the personal care, cosmetics and household markets, have signed an agreement for Azelis to buy 100% of the company’s shares.

Through this acquisition, Azelis will be well-positioned to benefit from Malaysia’s expanding personal care market, particularly in the lucrative Halal cosmetic sector.

“ChemSol’s strong market presence, comprehensive portfolio and innovation capabilities will greatly enhance Azelis’ footprint in Malaysia, along with the addition of their experienced and technically competent team,” details Laurent Nataf, CEO and president at Azelis Asia Pacific.

“Our complementary business models also allow us to better support our customers and principals, as they will benefit from our combined technical expertise and compelling expanded product offerings.”

The acquisition enhances Azelis’ domestic market position while bolstering the group’s comprehensive coverage in the Asia Pacific region. The transaction is anticipated to close before the end of the third quarter, pending the completion of customary closing requirements.

Functional ingredients and value chain
The wide-ranging and well-known product portfolio of ChemSol, mainly its active ingredients and functional ingredients, significantly expands Azelis’ lateral value chain for the regional personal care market.

ChemSol is well positioned to offer its partners cutting-edge solutions thanks to a specialized Personal Care application laboratory. The whole Chemsol staff will join the Azelis family and work to assist the company’s operations and integration process.

Azelis is well-positioned to benefit from Malaysia’s expanding personal care market, particularly in the lucrative Halal cosmetic sector.“We look forward to this partnership with Azelis, as joining a well-regarded international player will allow our business to scale up considerably, with more resources and opportunities for growth,” says Serena Ho, owner and managing director at Chemical Solutions Sdn Bhd.

ChemSol was established in 2001 and its 21 years in the Malaysian market have allowed it to build a solid client network.

“We have developed strong relationships with our customers and principals over the years. As part of the Azelis team, we will continue to do our best and stay committed to serving the Malaysian Personal Care industry as we expand the business together,” she adds.

Previous acquisitions and expansion moves
Azelis has strengthened its portfolio and presence within the global and Asia Pacific personal care industry through several acquisitions.

The company previously entered a distribution agreement with Seqens Advanced Cosmetics, a manufacturer of tailor-made ingredients and solutions. Customers of Azelis in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg will now have access to Seqens’ acyl chlorides, which are made in France.

In previous moves to strengthen its Asia Pacific reach, Azelis signed an agreement to acquire Ashapura Aromas, a distributor of ingredients in fragrances in India, strengthening its portfolio in the region. The company acquired Catalite, “one of the fastest-growing” home and personal care and industrial chemicals distributors in Thailand.

Azelis also acquired Ingredients Plus China to enter the growing Chinese personal care market fueled by demand for beauty products containing natural ingredients that perform their function while also providing a sense of well-being. Azelis previously opened a personal care lab in Egypt to enhance research in its global endeavors.

By Nicole Kerr