LANXESS completes acquisition of Emerald Kalama Chemical

Specialty chemicals company LANXESS completed the acquisition of Emerald Kalama Chemical on 3 August 2021. The US-based company is a world-leading manufacturer of specialty chemicals. LANXESS signed a purchase agreement on 14 February 2021. All required regulatory approvals have been received. According to the press statement, LANXESS financed the purchase price of around US$ 1.04 billion (EUR 870 million) from liquid funds.

In 2020, Emerald Kalama Chemical generated global sales of around US$ 425 million (EUR 375 million) and EBITDA pre-exceptional of around US$ 90 million (EUR 80 million). 75% of sales were attributable to business with specialty products for the consumer care market, especially products for flavors and fragrances and preservatives for use in food, household products and cosmetics. One-quarter of sales originated from business with specialty chemicals for industrial applications. With the closing of the transaction, LANXESS grows by around 470 employees and the three production sites in Kalama/Washington (USA), Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Widnes (Great Britain).

New Flavors & Fragrances business unit

This second-largest acquisition in its company history elevates LANXESS to be one of the leading providers of flavors and fragrances for the consumer sector. Products such as aldehydes and benzoates are distinguished by their premium quality, safety and unique flavor profiles.

The main areas of application for the flavorings and fragrances are personal care products, cosmetics and exclusive fragrances, and food and drinks. The products in the new LANXESS portfolio encompass over 30 aroma chemicals, providing a range of earthy, floral, fruity, spicy and herbal notes. Benzaldehyde, for example, gives items such as food, drinks, personal care products and cosmetics a sweet, almond-like flavor and fragrance. It is a key component in the synthesis of rose and jasmine fragrances in the perfume industry.

LANXESS is incorporating the flavorings and fragrances business into the newly established Flavors & Fragrances business unit led by Holger Hueppeler. “We at LANXESS have decades of experience in technology and production to reliably supply our customers with synthetic chemicals and deliver consistently high-quality ingredients that formulators of flavorings and fragrances can rely on,” says Hueppeler, who began his career in 1989 at Bayer and has amassed over three decades of experience in marketing, sales and logistics.

The new business unit will also comprise benzyl alcohol business. The product is used as an ultra-pure preservative for injection solutions and cosmetics and as a synthetic chemical. Other areas of application include the production of fragrances and flavorings and agricultural chemicals.

Nature-identical preservatives for food & household care products

The acquisition of Emerald Kalama also enables LANXESS to expand its portfolio of preservatives significantly. Key products for the food industry include sodium and potassium benzoate under the Kalama, Purox and Kalaguard brands. They act as gentle preservatives in foods, drinks, personal care and home care products with a pH level of up to 6.5.

Sodium and potassium benzoate are used primarily as nature-identical preservatives and safely inhibit bacteria, yeast, and mold growth. They are approved as food additives and preservatives by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are used in food and drink applications. The new products make perfect additions to LANXESS’s existing range of drink stabilizing agents under the Velcorin and Nagardo brands.

Benzyl-based preservatives such as sodium benzoate, benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol are also used in the household products and cosmetics sectors. Sodium benzoate, for instance, effectively inhibits microbial growth up to a pH level of 7. Kalaguard SB is the only sodium benzoate product with approval in the US and Europe for household applications like fabric softeners, cleaning agents and dishwasher products. According to the company, it is non-irritating to the skin and authorized for use in products certified under green label programs, such as Ecolabel or Nordic Swan.