IMCD expands IPO citing demand and desire for deals

25-Jun-2014 - Last updated on 26-Jun-2014 at 14:41 GMT

Dutch API and excipients distributor IMCD has increased the number of shares it will make available in its initial public offering (IPO), citing demand.

The firm – which also ships chemicals for the detergents, personal care and coating sectors –had initially planned to make 20m shares available as part of a €460m ($626m) (IPO) due to take place tomorrow, but has now increased this by 10% according to Reuters.

When it announced plans to list earlier this year IMCD – which is currently owned by investment group Bain Capital – said the decision to go public was motivated by a desire to pay off debt and “pursue attractive acquisitions.”

Pharma acquisitions

IMCD’s most recent drug industry-related deal was the purchase of Swedish API and drug excipient distributor Jucker Pharma AB, which completed on June 9.

At the time Didrik von Porat, Managing Director IMCD Sweden, said: “Corresponding with IMCD Pharma’s strategy to further expand into APIs in Europe, the acquisition of Jucker Pharma’s agency business will ensure a greater product offering to IMCD’s customers.

“Jucker Pharma holds a very strong position within the API market and is therefore a great complement to IMCD’s pharma business, presenting a platform for future growth.”

Prior to that – in February last year – IMCD bought Indchem telling us the takeover was motivated by a desire to establish itself as a leading fine chemicals distributor for India’s rapidly expanding drug industry.

A year earlier IMCD acquired the drug ingredients business of Malaysian firm Maxwell Pharma, citing similar motivation in that country.

Pharma stability

In the IPO, IMCD said the stability of the pharmaceutical sector - relative to other industries it supplies - was a key driver for its revenue growth over the past few years.

“The Group’s revenue in 2013 was derived primarily from the sale of products used in each of the life science and industrial end markets.

“Life science end markets include food and nutrition, pharmaceutical, and personal care, tend to be less vulnerable to economic cycles, and have shown higher growth rates from 2011 to 2013 than industrial end markets.”

At present IMCD employs 1,400 staff, operates in 30 countries and generated revenues of €1.2bn in 2013.