Key Takeaways
- • Shrieve Chemical, a Gemspring Capital portfolio company, has acquired Vertec BioSolvents, a West Chicago-based manufacturer of bio-based solvents, expanding its specialty chemicals platform into sustainable alternatives.
- • The acquisition strengthens Shrieve's market positioning across its four operating divisions (Chemical Distribution, Specialty Lubricants and Enhancers, Energy Products and Services, and Custom Packaging) by adding innovative bio-based solvent capabilities.
- • Vertec's acquisition provides access to Shrieve's global infrastructure of 50+ facilities, 1,500+ SKUs from 600 suppliers across 40 countries, and established customer relationships in agriculture, energy, food, pharmaceuticals, personal care, mining, manufacturing, and coatings sectors.
- • Both executives emphasized the strategic value: Shrieve CEO Joey Gullion highlighted the ability to meet growing customer demand for environmentally responsible solutions, while Vertec CEO George "Skip" Laubach cited accelerated product development and market expansion opportunities through Shrieve's broader distribution platform.
- • Transaction terms were not disclosed at announcement on April 24, 2026.
Summary
Shrieve Chemical Company, a global specialty chemicals distributor owned by Gemspring Capital, has acquired Vertec BioSolvents, a manufacturer of bio-based solvents based in West Chicago, Illinois. The acquisition, announced April 24, 2026, represents a strategic expansion of Shrieve's portfolio into sustainable chemistry alternatives as industrial and consumer markets increasingly shift toward environmentally responsible solutions.
Shrieve operates four distinct business divisions: Chemical Distribution (serving agriculture, energy, food, pharmaceuticals, personal care, mining, manufacturing, coatings, paper, and wastewater treatment sectors); Specialty Lubricants and Enhancers; Energy Products and Services (supplying base oils and drilling fluid additives); and Custom Packaging (providing non-flammable liquid packaging and custom lubricant blending). The company maintains an extensive global footprint with over 50 facilities, a sales network spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and key operating centers in the UK and China. Founded in 1978 by Jim Shrieve and currently led by CEO Joey Gullion from its headquarters near Houston in The Woodlands, Texas, Shrieve distributes over 1,500 SKUs sourced from 600 suppliers across 40 countries.
Vertec BioSolvents manufactures bio-based solvents designed to serve as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived chemicals in industrial and consumer applications. According to Gullion, the acquisition "strengthens our ability to support customers as demand continues to shift toward more environmentally responsible solutions" and builds on Vertec's "strong technical foundation." Vertec CEO George "Skip" Laubach emphasized that joining Shrieve "provides an opportunity to accelerate that work," enabling continued product development while expanding reach to new customers and markets through Shrieve's established distribution platform.
The transaction expands Shrieve's specialty portfolio and deepens its presence across key end markets, positioning the combined entity to enhance capabilities and strengthen relationships with customers and suppliers. Deal terms were not disclosed.
Shrieve operates four distinct business divisions: Chemical Distribution (serving agriculture, energy, food, pharmaceuticals, personal care, mining, manufacturing, coatings, paper, and wastewater treatment sectors); Specialty Lubricants and Enhancers; Energy Products and Services (supplying base oils and drilling fluid additives); and Custom Packaging (providing non-flammable liquid packaging and custom lubricant blending). The company maintains an extensive global footprint with over 50 facilities, a sales network spanning North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and key operating centers in the UK and China. Founded in 1978 by Jim Shrieve and currently led by CEO Joey Gullion from its headquarters near Houston in The Woodlands, Texas, Shrieve distributes over 1,500 SKUs sourced from 600 suppliers across 40 countries.
Vertec BioSolvents manufactures bio-based solvents designed to serve as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived chemicals in industrial and consumer applications. According to Gullion, the acquisition "strengthens our ability to support customers as demand continues to shift toward more environmentally responsible solutions" and builds on Vertec's "strong technical foundation." Vertec CEO George "Skip" Laubach emphasized that joining Shrieve "provides an opportunity to accelerate that work," enabling continued product development while expanding reach to new customers and markets through Shrieve's established distribution platform.
The transaction expands Shrieve's specialty portfolio and deepens its presence across key end markets, positioning the combined entity to enhance capabilities and strengthen relationships with customers and suppliers. Deal terms were not disclosed.
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