Ketjen
PE-OWNED
Acquired by KPS Capital Partners
What PE Will Likely Do
Ketjen's specialty catalyst and chemical product quality degradation through cheaper raw material substitutions and reduced quality control testing
Reduction in R&D investment for new catalyst formulations, slowing innovation in hydroprocessing and emission control technologies
Customer service and technical support degradation for refinery and chemical plant clients, with longer response times for critical catalyst performance issues
Supply chain consolidation reducing product availability and increasing lead times for specialized catalyst orders
Workforce reduction among specialized chemical engineers and catalyst development scientists, eroding institutional knowledge
Expected Timeline
“0 to 6 months months”
Announcements about 'operational excellence' and 'global efficiency'; initial procurement cost reduction initiatives targeting raw material suppliers; freeze on non-essential hiring
“6 to 12 months months”
First wave of layoffs in R&D and technical services; consolidation of manufacturing sites; initial customer complaints about batch-to-batch catalyst performance inconsistency
“12 to 24 months months”
Noticeable decline in technical support responsiveness; deferred maintenance at production facilities; customers begin reporting shorter catalyst lifecycles and reduced efficiency in hydroprocessing applications; potential sale of niche product lines
What You Can Do
Actions
Industrial customers: Negotiate long-term supply contracts with fixed quality specifications and technical service level agreements before operational changes take effect
Request catalyst performance guarantees and warranty terms in writing, as product lifecycle and efficiency claims may become unreliable
Develop relationships with alternative catalyst suppliers (Albemarle, Haldor Topsoe, BASF) as contingency for potential supply disruptions or quality degradation
Monitor catalyst batch certificates of analysis closely for changes in physical properties (surface area, pore volume, active metal loading)
Document baseline performance metrics of current Ketjen catalysts to detect degradation in future deliveries
Alternatives
Look for family-owned or employee-owned businesses