Barentz Acquires Viachem in the USA

Hoofddorp, The Netherlands - October 6, 2022 - Barentz International, a global life science ingredients distributor, announced today that it has acquired Viachem, Ltd ("Viachem"), a specialty distributor of life science ingredients and specialty chemicals. By combining a dedicated market research function and digitally enabled sales & marketing capabilities, Viachem represents a market growth engine for Barentz and its principal suppliers. The team will continue to be led by Mike Efting, Viachem's President & Founder, and offices will remain in Plano, TX and Augusta, GA.

Highlights:
▪ In-house market development function to identify, research, and qualify market opportunities for new and existing product lines
▪ Digital marketing capabilities to drive targeted customer development efforts and lead qualification
▪ Technical sales team that utilizes a systematic sales process to identify new market opportunities and provide customers with a high-touch service model
▪ Portfolio of blue-chip product lines that are synergistic with the Barentz portfolio

Hidde van der Wal, Group CEO of Barentz, commented: "Viachem has developed sales & marketing capabilities that are unique in the industry and we're thrilled to welcome Mike and his team into the Barentz organization. By combining these capabilities with Barentz' global scale, technical expertise, and extensive digital infrastructure, we see significant opportunity to expand market share for our customers and principal suppliers."

Terry Hill, CEO of Barentz North America, commented: "Every successful acquisition begins with the people and we're excited for what the Viachem team will bring to Barentz. Since its founding, Viachem recognized that our industry is evolving and that best-in-class distributors need to develop new tools and processes in order to evolve in parallel with the industry. This transaction is a testament to Mike Efting's strategic vision and how that vision can be accelerated under Barentz."

Mike Efting, President & Founder of Viachem, added: "Our vision at Viachem has always been to change the way chemicals and ingredients are bought and sold. When we set out to find the best long-term home for Viachem’s employees, customers, and principals - while remaining true to our vision - we quickly identified that Barentz had all the attributes we were seeking. The entrepreneurial culture, commitment to digital tools, global scale, and a portfolio of synergistic product lines were a few of our requirements and Barentz checked every box. We are excited for what the future holds with Barentz."

ABOUT VIACHEM
Viachem is an industry-leading specialty chemical, food additive and ingredient distributor focused on redefining the distribution experience for both producers and customers. Through a unique sales and distribution model, Viachem provides its suppliers with a cost-effectively channel to quickly grow their market share without incurring additional risk and resource commitments. Viachem's extensively trained and highly specialized Technical Sales Specialists deploy a targeted go-to-market approach with a focus on select products and end-markets. The business is based in Plano, Texas with an additional office in Augusta, GA. For more information, visit: www.viacheminc.com

ABOUT BARENTZ
Barentz is a leading global life science ingredients distributor. The company sources branded specialty ingredients from leading manufacturers worldwide and its ingredient experts provide value-added technical support which includes pre-mixing, blending, ingredient formulation and ingredient testing from its state-of-the-art, customized formulation centers and application laboratories in EMEA, Americas and Asia-Pacific.

Established in 1953, Barentz has operations in more than 60 countries with a strong presence in Europe and North America, and a rapidly growing network in Latin America and Asia-Pacific. With a turnover of €2.1 billion, the company employs around 2,000 people worldwide and serves over 22,000 customers. For more information, visit: www.barentz.com

For more information, please contact:

Irena Rozic
Global Head of Marketing & Communication
irena.rozic@barentz.com
+31 (0)23 567 34 56

Jami Knoth
Marketing Manager, North America
jknoth@barentz.us
+1 (0)440 937 1000