Press release

VR Equitypartner and BIP Investment Partners sell LEUNA-Tenside to Vantage Specialty Chemicals

Frankfurt am Main/November 23, 2018 – Frankfurt-based private equity VR Equitypartner and Luxembourg-based BIP Investment Partners have entered a definitive agreement to sell their joint portfolio company LEUNA-Tenside GmbH (Leuna/Saxony-Anhalt). The buyer is Vantage Specialty Chemicals Holdings Inc. (Chicago/Illinois), a leading provider of naturally-derived ingredients focused on the personal care, food, consumer, and industrial end markets. As part of a succession solution for the company, the two equity investors acquired a majority interest in LEUNA-Tenside in 2015, when the former owner switched to the Advisory Board.

A global chemicals company, LEUNA-Tenside is a market leader in niche, specialty surfactant production. Surfactants are vital ingredients utilized in the manufacturing of a wide range of products for daily use across personal care, consumer goods, as well as industrial applications. LEUNA-Tenside GmbH was founded in 1995 as part of the management buyout of a business division of the former Leuna Werke and has various large-scale chemical plants on an area of around 100,000 m².

Christian Futterlieb, Managing Director of VR Equitypartner, comments: “When we invested in LEUNA-Tenside, the company was already quite future-oriented. Together with the management, we optimized the organizational structures, expanded the product portfolio on a targeted basis, invested in the commercial organization and thereby significantly further enhanced profitability.” Jan Drees, member of the Executive Board of VR Equitypartner, adds: “Thanks to our joint efforts, LEUNA-Tenside is well positioned in the market today. The company enjoys an outstanding competitive edge thanks to its ability to pursue customized surfactant chemistry within a dynamic niche.”

LEUNA-Tenside Managing Director Dr. Steve Döring especially emphasizes the successful collaboration with the previous shareholders: “VR Equitypartner and BIP Investment Partners played a major role in the successful implementation of the structural changes within the company,” he notes. At the same time, he is already looking to the future: “For us, Vantage’s interest in Leuna represents a strong validation of our work to date and a recognition of the tremendous opportunities available for the business which include enhanced access to the international markets, especially to the US market, and numerous cross-selling opportunities. I am excited about working together with Vantage to continue to execute on the growth and expansion plans for this site, which is a very positive signal for our colleagues working here,” he adds.

The agreement still requires the approval of the regulatory authorities.

Link to VR Equitypartner’s press release: www.vrep.de/news-infos/aktuelles/