Well-known in the plastics industry for flame retardants and additives, Italmatch Chemicals has acquired 100% of Compass Chemical International, an important North American independent chemical company active in the production and marketing of phosphonates and additives for water treatment and for the oil & gas market, from US private equity firm One Rock Capital Partners. 

Thanks to this acquisition, Ardian portfolio company Italmatch will consolidate its presence in the American market, with an important manufacturing site which will continue to produce Compass’ Mayoquest brand of products. It will also be expanding its water treatment product range, thus strengthening the leading global role of the Dequest brand in a highly strategic business segment.

This is the third acquisition in the water treatment industry by Italmatch since Ardian became the major shareholder in June 2014, and falls into the company’s growth strategy through acquisitions, aimed at establishing Italmatch as a leading global player in its market sectors. In December 2014, Italmatch acquired GRS Chemical Technologies, an Italian company active in the production of soluble polymers for water treatments and additives for combustion, and, in January 2016, it acquired Solvay’s desalination, phosphonates and phosphonic acid-based water additives business.

Sergio Iorio, CEO of Italmatch Chemicals, stated: “Thanks to this transaction we will expand our product range for the water treatment markets and will noticeably increase our presence in the oil & gas industries. This will be possible also thanks to the presence of Compass in Texas, benefiting from the high reputation of Compass Chemical International along with its excellent track record, its strong customer loyalty, and its exceptional ability to continuously develop new products and applications”.

“The overseas acquisition of Compass represents a further important step in the strategy of development and in the internationalization of Italmatch, undertaken with Ardian. Our aim is to guide our portfolio companies in a growth path on a global scale, creating value for every stakeholder. Along with Italmatch and its excellent management, two years after the investment we can confirm that the big development opportunities that Ardian had foreseen have been taken, and we still see significant growth margins for a group that represents Italian industrial excellence”, added Yann Chareton, managing director of the Mid Cap Buyout team of Ardian.