Investment firm One Rock Capital Partners LLC has made another materials distribution deal, this time acquiring European distributor Distrupol for an undisclosed price.
One Rock, based in New York and Los Angeles, made the deal through its GPD Cos. Inc. unit, which also includes plastics materials distributor Nexeo Plastics. Distrupol had been part of chemicals distribution firm Univar Solutions Inc. of Downers Grove, Ill.
Distrupol, based in Chertsey, England, is a European distributor of plastic materials. For more than 50 years, the firm has served a wide range of markets, including consumer, medical, automotive and electrical.
Distrupol sells more than 4,000 grades of material to more than 1,300 customers in 13 countries. Its portfolio includes sustainably derived solutions that reduce environmental impact. The firm currently distributes resins and compounds from 22 suppliers.
In a Jan. 22 news release, One Rock Managing Partner Tony Lee said that the acquisition of Distrupol "adds to One Rock's existing holdings in the plastics industry, increases our scale and continues the execution of our strategy to build a leading group of global distributors."
He added that Distrupol "has established a reputation for product and technical expertise, innovation and reliability among its deep network of European suppliers and customers."
One Rock has owned a majority stake in resin distributor Nexeo Plastics since early 2019. Nexeo Plastics had been the plastics unit of Nexeo Solutions, which Univar had acquired for $1.8 billion in late 2018.
Nexeo Plastics, based in The Woodlands, Texas, has annual sales estimated at around $2 billion. The firm distributes resins and compounds in North America, Europe and Asia for more than 30 suppliers.
Officials described GPD as "a holding company formed by One Rock … with the intent to create a leading group of global value-added distributors."
Officials said in the release that Distrupol "will join a leading group of best-in-class global distributors that also includes Nexeo Plastics." They added that Distrupol will operate as a standalone, independent entity under its current brand and will be led by its existing management and commercial teams.
"One Rock has substantial experience in, and deep knowledge of, the specialty plastics and distribution space and shares our passion for collaboration," Distrupol Business Director Richard Orme said in the release.
"We are pleased to join a leading group of global distributors, while allowing our team to keep its distinct identity and operate entrepreneurially in this environment," he added.