Buyout Investments

CABB

Activity

CABB is a German specialty chemicals company and a world leader in the production of monochloroacetic acid (MCAA) and a broad range of specialty intermediate products applied in the PVC, pharmaceutical, agrochemical and healthcare industries. CABB has a major presence in Europe, North and South America.

History

CABB, which originally used to be part of the Hoechst group, was a subsidiary of Clariant, a Swiss-based chemicals company. In 2005, CABB won independence following a buyout by its employees and Gilde. The company’s initial results targets were scheduled to run over several years but were met in the space of just 18 months and CABB forecasts 2006 revenues of €143 million, up from €114 million when Gilde first took over the company. AXA Private Equity bought CABB’s entire equity together with the management team as part of a second buyout transaction.

Strategy

CABB’s strategy for growth over the last few years, which was developed by its directors with our support, consists of expanding the company’s international presence by identifying various opportunities for forging alliances with Asian manufacturers and consolidating its presence in the US market.