Portfolio

Ascensus Specialties

Ascensus Specialties is a manufacturer of specialty materials for use in critical life sciences and specialties markets and applications.

Ascensus Specialties, headquartered in Bellevue, WA, is the world leader in borohydride, borane and organometallic chemistries. The Company supplies a diversified portfolio of high-quality reagents and catalysts, and nano-materials to a global customer base in the pharmaceutical, microelectronics, and other specialty end markets. A core application for Ascensus is the use of its specialty materials in the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients, including antiretrovirals for HIV, treatment of cardiovascular and oncology diseases, and vaccines. In broader applications, Ascensus products are often used to remove impurities (e.g. color, odor, and other unwanted substances) in customer production processes.

Wind Point acquired Ascensus Specialties from Dow Chemical in January 2015 as an add-on for a former portfolio company. In 2017, Ascensus became a standalone company under Wind Point ownership and underwent significant transformation and scale via organic growth and three strategic add-on acquisitions. In 2021, Wind Point recapitalized Ascensus by simultaneously exiting and reinvesting in the company through a newly formed special purpose vehicle anchored by Blackstone Strategic Partners. Wind Point’s reinvestment was alongside New Mountain Capital in a new joint control partnership structure whereby both firms provided additional capital to pursue organic and acquisition-driven growth opportunities.

Ascensus Specialties is led by CEO Paul Burlingame. His prior experience includes President & CEO, Air Liquide Advanced Materials Inc.