Redmond, Wash. and Waxahachie, Texas — Univar, a global leader in the distribution of industrial and specialty chemicals and related services with $9.7 billion in sales, said Dec. 5 that it is acquiring Magnablend, a provider of custom chemical manufacturing, blending, and packaging solutions. The deal is expected to close this month. Additional details were not released. "The acquisition of Magnablend is an important step forward in Univar’s continued focus on the rapidly-growing, North American oil and gas market,” said Univar President and CEO Erik Fyrwald. “Magnablend’s geographic position at the heart of current and developing shale basins allows us to offer a comprehensive suite of products and services to meet increasing customer demand.” Of particular interest to Univar, Magnablend specializes in completion chemicals used in the oil and gas industry, including guar gum slurries, cross linkers, breakers, and buffers, and has provided chemical formulation and blending services to the oil and gas and agriculture industries for over 30 years. As for ag, this includes specialty fertilizer blending, such as NPKs (powder and liquid), soluble borons, foliar, and adjuvant, as well as microemulsions and dispersions. It is also involved in micronutrients, nitrogen stabilizers, and root enhancers. The company said bulk storage of raw materials – specifically anhydrous ammonia – allows it to be competitive. It also sources urea, potash, nitric acid, DAP, phosphoric acid, and other phosphates. Magnablend is also involved in animal nutrition and feed supplements. Founded in 1979, Magnablend had 2012 sales over $400 million, with facilities in Texas, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, and North Dakota. In Canada, Univar is a leading wholesale distributor of crop protection products to independent retailers and specialty applicators. Its Environmental Sciences unit is the largest distributor of pest control products and equipment in North America, serving the structural pest control, public health (vector), turf & ornamental, food processing, post harvest, animal health, and hay production markets. It is also involved in water treatment chemicals, including algae control. Univar operates a global network of more than 260 facilities in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and Latin America, with additional sales offices located in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
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