Private equity firm the Riverside Company announced the acquisition of the Capol product line, a part of Centerchem's US food ingredients arm, on Wednesday.
Centerchem was already distributing Capol’s confectionery coatings and finishes, but the deal is expected to open up new avenues in the vast US confectionery market.
Boost to customer base
Riverside principal Dominik Heer said in a statement: “Acquiring this business unit provides Capol with direct access to a large blue-chip customer base in the crucial North American market.”
“This add-on acquisition will drive growth and improve both top line and bottom line results for Capol, while allowing the company to better penetrate the world’s largest confectionary market.”
Centerchem profile
Centerchem is a supplier of food ingredients and also deals in biochemical reagents and cosmetic and pharmaceutical ingredients, although these business areas were not included in the Riverside deal.
According to its website, Centerchem’s food ingredients business is also the exclusive North American and Caribbean distributor for DSM's enzymes.
Product development for US market
Capol manufacturers polishing, anti-sticking and release agents for confectionery applications. It previously operated under the name Kaul.
Riverside acquired German firm Kaul in September 2009 for an undisclosed sum.
Capol CEO Matthias Seemann said that his company was looking for “continued advancement of our client service and product development for the important North American market” through the Centerchem deal.
Capol’s new US operation is based in Northbrook, Illinois.
Note: This article originally reported that Riverside Company, owners of Capol, had acquired the US food ingredients arm of Centerchem. In fact, Riverside has only acquired the Capol division of Centerchem. Centerchem will continue to represent its other suppliers in the food ingredients division. The article has since been altered to reflect this.