The group SOFIPROTEOL acquires 100% of the Belgian oleochemical group Oleon
Sofiprotéol, the financial organization of the French vegetable oils and proteins sector, has announced the acquisition – by its subsidiary Diester Industrie – of 100% of the shares of the company Oleon Holding NV from its Belgian shareholders (Ackermans & van Haaren - Sofinim, KBC Private Equity, Mercator Verzekeringen, Fortis Private Equity en Mr Jan De Clerck).
The Belgian group Oleon is a leading European producer of oleochemicals made of natural oils and fats. Oleon converts these renewable raw materials into 500,000 tons of fatty acids, esters, fatty alcohols, glycerin, dimers and other specialties. Those products combine high technical and environmental properties and are used by industrial companies in applications such as lubricants, detergents, cosmetics and hygienic products, coatings and paint.
Oleon employs 550 people and has 4 production sites in Europe, a new plant in Malaysia planed to start early 2009, and an international sales organisation.
The acquisition of Oleon is part of the strategy of sustainable development of the group Sofiprotéol, which – to complement priority markets of oil and protein plants for human and animal nutrition – is replacing part of the traditional petroleum based chemicals through renewable agricultural products.