Safex Chemicals acquires Briar Chemicals

Investex advised Safex Chemicals on its USD 85mn acquisition of Briar Chemicals

Investec acted as the Exclusive Financial Advisor to Safex Chemical Ltd. (“Safex) during their acquisition of Briar Chemicals, UK-based leading agrochemicals CDMO solutions provider from AURELIUS Equity Opportunities. This is the largest outbound agrochemicals based CDMO transaction. The acquisition of Briar makes Safex, one of India’s leading integrated player in the agrochemicals industry with presence in Intermediates, Technicals, Patented CDMO and B2C Formulations space.

Investec's role:

Investec leveraged its experience and thought leadership in the Chemicals space, to advise Safex on all contours of the transaction key being valuation, acquisition financing and efficiently structuring the transaction.
Investec “handheld end-to-end execution” and ensured seamless co-ordination between Safex, the Seller and their advisors at every stage of the transaction, to deliver the transaction to Safex.

About Safex Chemicals:

Founded in 1991, Safex Chemicals is a leading pan India player engaged in the manufacture and sale of crop protection products across India. Safex Chemicals is amongst the fastest growing agrochemical companies in India with a 25%+ revenue CAGR over the past 5 years. Briar is Safex’s first overseas acquisition and third acquisition in the last 18 months. Safex operates six manufacturing facilities located across India. Safex is backed by ChrysCapital, one of India’s largest and most successful private equity firms, which owns a significant minority stake in the business.

About Briar Chemicals:

Briar Chemicals is UK’s leading agrochemicals Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) solutions provider and serves the world’s innovative agrochemicals companies. It was formed as a carve-out transaction from Bayer CropScience in 2012 and operates from a 115-acre manufacturing site consisting of labs to large scale reactors.