PERSONAL CARE
Tapping into Africa’s enormous growth potential
By acquiring Orkila, Azelis is set to become a leading specialty chemical distributor in Africa and the Middle East. The company announced in October it had signed an agreement with Orkila to purchase 100 percent of its business.
H
eadquartered in Beirut, Lebanon,
care and food customers. Orkila also offers accredited laboratory testing coupled with the ability to develop and introduce innovative products, create and enhance formulations and assist customers in their pursuit for growth and
The acquisition brings Azelis’
improved performance.
the Orkila group has offices in
innovation and formulation potential and
13 countries and is active in more
international reach together with Orkila’s
president of Azelis, comments: ‘We are very
than 30 countries in MEA the
excellent reputation, strong regional
excited Orkila will become part of Azelis.
presence and its expertise.
It is a well-established company, known in
region. It also represents a large number of world-class manufacturers of speciality
The transaction is expected to be
Dr Hans Joachim Müller, CEO and
Africa and the Middle East for its high-
chemicals and food ingredients which
completed within the first quarter of 2020.
quality expertise and service. We have
have a strong strategic fit with Azelis’
It entails Azelis acquiring 100 percent of
been impressed by Orkila’s committed
principal base.
Orkila and for its 220+ employees to join
management, the similarity of our business
the Azelis team.
models and excellent cultural fit. We know
Orkila serves several thousand customers across Africa and the Middle
that many of our principals are currently
to smaller regional producers, all seeking
STRONG SYNERGIES AND BALANCED CAPABILITIES
speciality products that bring added
Orkila was established in 2005 and has
regional speciality distributor with the
value to their brands. These customers
grown to become a leading speciality
strength of Azelis will result in an excellent
perceive Orkila as a reliable partner
chemicals and food ingredients
and unique platform for organic growth.’
to achieve success in the vibrant and
distributor in the MEA region. It operates
growing personal care and food and
in multiple market segments, including
and CEO, adds: ‘After almost 15 years of
beverage industries.
pharmaceuticals, personal and home
growing on a stand-alone basis, it’s time
care, food, agrochemicals, animal
for us to move into global territory. Joining
economic acceleration and an improved
nutrition, paint and construction, oilfield,
a well-established international player like
business environment, providing Azelis
plastic additives and water treatment. To
Azelis will enable us to continue to deliver
and its principals with an opportunity to
ensure business continuity, Audrey Sacy
the high-quality products and services
accelerate their own growth in the region.
Aris, Christophe Sacy and other senior
our customers are accustomed to, while
With its growing middle class, the speciality
managers of Orkila will continue to run
accessing new growth opportunities.
chemicals distribution market in Africa is
operations going forward.
The acquisition will also allow us to
East, ranging from major multinationals
Africa has been experiencing
said to be one of the fastest growing in
Like Azelis, the company is very
looking to strengthen their activities in Africa. Combining the drive of a leading
Antoine Sacy, Orkila’s founder, chairman
thrive under Azelis’ ownership, securing
the world, and blue-chip raw materials
focused on promoting speciality service
unparalleled service for our customers,
producers are looking for a sizeable
offerings and has an application lab
superior growth for our principals and a
distributor in the region.
in Egypt, which serves both personal
highly rewarding work environment for our
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| QUARTER 4 2019 | P C Africa
