Founded in 1922 as Overlack AG, OQEMA AG today occupies a leading position in the European chemical distribution market. The company has grown continuously and at an above-average rate in recent years and has a Europe-wide network. With 12,000 products, the company’s product range is broadly diversified: commodities and specialties are equally represented. Specific knowledge of the regional procurement and sales markets is the company’s strength. Reliability and continuity are key aspects of the company’s sustainable growth.

With Hannover Finanz as its equity partner, the company is currently realizing its growth strategy (buy-and-build) through well-considered acquisitions.

In 2024, after ten years of participation, the owning family bought back its shares and the company is once again 100 per cent family-owned. Over the entire period of the participation, Hannover Finanz developed the company together with management as part of the buy-and-build strategy that had been planned at the beginning of the participation. During this time, OQEMA made over 40 acquisitions. Turnover rose from 430 million euros to almost 2 billion euros.