Jobs saved as chemicals distributor sold from administration

Forty-four jobs have been saved after the business and assets of one of the largest privately owned distributors of chemicals in the UK were sold in administration.

OQEMA has acquired the company which had annual turnover in the region of £70m, and all staff will transfer to a new company called OQEMA Whyte Ltd, which will trade under the Whyte name.

The rest of the Whyte group of companies remain unaffected.

The sale follows the appointment of Andrew Andronikou and Paul Zalkin, of business advisory and corporate recovery firm Quantuma, as joint administrators of Whyte Chemicals Ltd after the company, based in north London and Denaby, South Yorkshire, was forced to restructure its credit facilities earlier this year.

Robert Moss, managing director of OQEMA, the UK division of the Germany-based OQEMA AG group, said: “We are delighted to welcome a strong force in the UK chemical distribution industry into the OQEMA family.

“Whyte Chemicals has been a driving force in the industry and we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. We believe the new company will be able to capitalise on the solid business created by Melvyn Whyte over 40 years ago.”

Mr Whyte will remain an advisor to the new company until the end of the year to help manage the transition.

Andronikou said: “The last few months have been a testing time for the suppliers, customers and loyal staff of Whyte Chemicals Ltd.

“Without their forbearance and understanding the job of rescuing this leading name in the chemical distribution industry would not have been possible.”

Joint administrator Zalkin added: “Despite unexpected difficulties and significant external challenges Quantuma has hopefully delivered a fantastic result. We wish all concerned the very best for a bright future.”

OQEMA, based in Carterton, Oxfordshire, was previously known as Lansdowne Chemicals, and has been owned by Germany-based Overlack AG since 2015.