Azelis Acquires Georges Walther; Expands Presence in Swiss

Azelis said that it has acquired Georges Walther AG, an independent family run company based in Switzerland. The transaction will be closed in the course of the next months.

With the majority of revenue coming from high-quality cosmetic ingredients, essential oils and fragrances, Georges Walther has developed an expertise in spheres, beads and soft pearls. In addition, the portfolio also includes pharma ingredients, food supplements and food ingredients.

The acquisition endorses the commitment of Azelis’ major shareholders – Funds advised by Apax Partners – to support business growth in the speciality food ingredients and chemical segment. Georges Walther AG employs nine people and is based in Pfaffikon (SZ), with a warehouse in Rumlang.

Jean-Michel Walther, currently CEO & sales at Georges Walther, will become business manager for personal care in Switzerland. His key responsibilities will be to further develop the personal care market in Switzerland, reporting to Urs Haller, managing director Azelis Switzerland.

“Combining this acquisition with existing operations from Azelis Switzerland and Azelis Germany will give us the perfect platform to strengthen our presence in the Swiss market. It will allow us to focus on advanced personal care products in the portfolio and will enable us to be closer to our customers’ R&D centres,” said Anna Bertona, Azelis CEO & president EMEA.

“Market consolidation is inevitable in the industry, having access to the Azelis application labs, technical services and network will allow us to continue our growth trajectory. We are looking forward to becoming part of a larger family – trust and personal relationships are at the heart of our culture, which will fit extremely well with Azelis’ core values,” added Jean-Michel Walther, CEO & sales at Georges Walther.