Agrochemicals company Safex Chemicals India said that it has acquired UK-based Briar Chemicals for Rs 700 crore from pan-European alternative investment firm AURELIUS Equity Opportunities.

Briar Chemicals, based in Norwich, is the UK’s leading agrochemicals CDMO solutions provider and serves the world’s most innovative agrochemicals companies. It was formed as a carve-out transaction from Bayer CropScience in 2012.

Founded in New Delhi in 1991, Safex is a leading Indian manufacturer and supplier of the most advanced crop protection chemicals. Safex is backed by private equity firm ChrysCapital.

Neeraj Jindal, Director of Safex, has joined the Board of Briar Chemicals and will steer the future growth of the company.

“We are delighted to enter the UK by acquiring the country’s pre-eminent independent agrochemical CDMO provider,” said Piyush Jindal, Director of Safex.

“The addition of Briar to Safex’s crop protection business strengthens our position in the global agrochemicals market.”

Briar is Safex’s first overseas acquisition and forms part of the company’s strategy for global expansion in step with the substantial growth of the worldwide agrochemicals market, which is set to increase in value by over 11% from USD 62.3 billion in 2022 to USD 69.4 billion in 2026.

Briar has complex chemistry and CDMO process development capabilities and employs around 250 people. The company operates from a 115-acre well-invested manufacturing site consisting of lab to large scale reactors, with sufficient available space and infrastructure for future expansion.

“Acquiring Briar Chemicals will fast-track Safex into becoming a fully integrated company, present in all industry verticals. Strong operational synergies and strategic vision will help Safex to become an important player in the global agro chemical industry. This is a very exciting time for our business,” said SK Chaudhary, Founder Director of Safex.

R K Jindal, another director of Safex, views the acquisition as a sign that Indian agrochemical industry has arrived.

“The acquisition of Briar is strategic and will help catapult Safex’s growth in the global agrochemicals market,” said Raghav Ramdev, Managing Director of ChrysCapital. “In addition to providing equity, ChrysCapital will work with management on the transition and integration of the acquisition.”

“Briar is a trusted long-term partner to many of the world´s largest chemical groups, with an impressive heritage,” said Matthias Täubl, CEO of AURELIUS Equity Opportunities. “Since becoming part of the AURELIUS portfolio, Briar first stabilised and subsequently significantly expanded its position. We thank the Briar team for their efforts and contribution to this success story and wish them continued success as part of Safex’s European business.”

Safex was advised on the transaction by Investec (Corporate Finance), KPMG (Financial and Tax DD), Bird & Bird (Legal), Bodhi Tree (Debt Advisor), RK & Associates (Commercial DD) and Girish Kshirsagar (Technical DD). R Hariharan (agrochemical industry advisor) assisted in key areas of market sizing, regulatory aspects and the competitive landscape.

AURELIUS was advised on the transaction by DC Advisory, Deloitte (Financial), Travers Smith (Legal), EY (Tax), NexantECA (Commercial), and Birketts (Property).