By George Gill
 
Private equity firm The Riverside Co. acquired Galaxy Associates as an add-on to DuBois Chemicals. Both companies make specialty chemicals, including metalworking fluids.
 
Financial terms were not disclosed.
 
Cincinnati-based Galaxy and DuBois operate less than five miles from each other in Ohio and share similar business segments, end-markets, product offerings and targeted customers.
 
“Galaxy bolsters DuBois’ industrial metal finishing business while adding complementary capabilities to DuBois’ transportation and paper segments,” said Riverside Parter Tim Gosline. “We expect customers of both firms to benefit from enhanced capabilities and a broader suite of products.”
 
“The complementary nature of our cultures, products and end markets will allow us to deliver a breadth of solutions that exceed our customers’ expectations,” said DuBois CEO Jeff Welsh.
 
“They’re involved in many of the same sectors that we’re involved in,” Welsh told Lube Report. “If you look at the manufacturing piece – whether that’s metalworking, surface finishing or coating – they’ve got a very strong presence there as DuBois does. They’ve got a good strong presence in the transportation area, as well as the pulp and paper sector, which DuBois is also involved in. With the additional technical resources that they bring, as well as their product technology, we really see this as a way to increase our overall penetration in these markets, and a way to create even better solutions.”
 
Riverside, which has headquarters in Cleveland and New York, acquired DuBois of Sharonville, Ohio, in 2008. Galaxy is the fourth add-on that Riverside has completed for DuBois. Prior add-ons include transportation cleaning products supplier Blendco, metalworking and industrial fluids manufacturer Perkins Products, and specialty chemical water and wastewater management products manufacturer Mitco.