Hilco is seeking offers to acquire the intellectual property and tangible assets of Amigo Chem Limited (“Amigo Chem” or the “Company”) on behalf of the Proposed Liquidator of the Company, Michael Gregson of GS Insolvency.
Amigo Chem is a UK-based specialist laboratory instrumentation and automation business focused on delivering practical, high-value solutions for chemical research and process-development laboratories.
The Company’s principal product was a compact parallel chemistry workstation, designed to address the growing demand for rapid and repeatable reaction screening in pharmaceutical and chemical process environments. Parallel chemistry enables multiple reaction variants to be run concurrently, significantly reducing development timelines while improving understanding of critical variables such as temperature, solvent choice, reagent addition and reaction kinetics. Amigo Chem’s system automated the monitoring of up to ten parallel reactions, allowing users to generate high-quality experimental data with minimal manual intervention and without requiring specialist automation expertise.
Amigo Chem’s products were developed in close collaboration with practising chemists and designed for seamless integration into standard laboratory environments, including fume cupboards and established workflows. The Company’s workstation’s compact footprint and comparatively attractive cost profile, relative to larger automation platforms, positioned it as an accessible solution for both discovery-stage and process-chemistry teams, with flexibility across applications including synthesis, degradation studies and solubility profiling.
A core differentiator of the platform is its proprietary control software, a Windows-based application written in C# and developed specifically to orchestrate complex parallel reaction schedules and sampling regimes. The software’s scheduler functionality, in particular, has been cited by industry participants as a capability where competing systems have struggled. Development was undertaken with independent contributors and managed via Subversion version control. The associated technical asset base includes source code, engineering drawings, calibration procedures and accumulated know-how relating to hardware integration, sampling manifolds, temperature-control modules and robotics interfaces.
Historically, Amigo Chem generated revenues through direct sales of its workstations into industrial laboratories worldwide, achieving more than £4.6 million in sales since 2014, despite minimal formal sales and marketing investment. The platform was well-received by leading industry participants, with organisations such as AstraZeneca publicly referencing the system in technical posters, titled, “Amigo – A Chemist’s New Best Friend”. Subsequent software iterations further enhanced functionality for advanced users, reinforcing the system’s technical credibility and commercial relevance.
This acquisition represents an opportunity to secure a proven laboratory automation platform and associated technical assets with clear applicability in parallel reaction screening and process development. For an acquirer with capabilities in scientific hardware, software or laboratory automation, the assets provide a strong foundation to support installed users, integrate into existing product portfolios and pursue further growth in the increasingly automated research tools market.
Amigo Chem has established a strong reputation within the laboratory automation and parallel-chemistry space, and is associated with practical engineering, ease of use and real-world applicability, reflecting the Company’s focus on solving day-to-day challenges faced by working chemists rather than delivering abstract or over-engineered automation platforms.
Despite limited formal marketing, the Amigo Chem platform and brand achieved meaningful industry recognition and peer-level validation. The workstation has been referenced by major pharmaceutical organisations, including AstraZeneca. Industry coverage has further commended the brand, describing its platform as an intelligent and effective solution for parallel-chemistry workflows. Additional anonymised case studies and user feedback published by the Company demonstrate successful deployment in industrial R&D settings, bolstering the brand’s credibility.
For an acquirer, the Amigo Chem brand represents a credible and well-regarded identity within a specialised but valuable segment of the laboratory automation market.
The Company likely holds rights in unregistered trade marks protecting the “Amigo Chem” brand name and logo.
Amigo Chem’s software centres on its proprietary control and scheduling software, developed specifically to operate the Company’s parallel chemistry workstation. The application is Windows-based, written in C# and developed using Microsoft Visual Studio. The Company’s software controls reaction workflows including reagent addition, temperature management and automated sampling across multiple parallel reaction vessels. A key differentiator is the system’s scheduler, which allows users to define complex, time-based reaction and sampling sequences and to run unattended experiments over extended periods, a capability that industry participants have previously cited as an area where competing systems have struggled.
The code base is file-based rather than web or database-driven, reflecting its origins as a robust, laboratory-focused control system prioritising reliability and practical use. The Company’s source code is available to acquire, providing the foundation for an acquirer to integrate, extend or modernise the software under new ownership.
The Company holds the amigochem.co.uk and amigochem.com domain names, which are available to acquire.
The Company likely owns the copyright in the website content historically hosted at its domains, showcasing its workstation, software capabilities and use in pharmaceutical and industrial R&D environments.
Rights in the Company’s LinkedIn social media account are also available to acquire.
The Company holds historic customer data derived from its accounting systems, email correspondence and internal records, over 90 customer names/organisations, points of contact, geographic information and contact details, with certain records mapping customers to installed systems.
The Company holds a substantial inventory of finished goods, sub-assemblies and component parts relating to the Amigo Chem parallel chemistry platform, including manifolds, probes, sampling assemblies, temperature-control components, caddies and accessories. At cost, the saleable stock is recorded at c. £147,500.
The deadline for offers is Friday 23 January 2026 at 12pm GMT
All expressions of interest and bids are to be directed to Hilco in writing. A Bid Submission Form is available on request. Please contact Hilco to gain access to a virtual data room for further information on signing a confidentiality agreement.
Hilco is acting as exclusive agent to the Company and its Proposed Liquidator in connection with the proposed sale of some or all of the Company’s assets. The Proposed Liquidator acts as an agent of the Company and without personal liability.
All sales are made strictly on an “as is, where is” basis. Only such right, title and interest (if any) as the Company may have in the assets will be transferred to a purchaser. No warranties, guarantees, or representations (express or implied) are provided by the Company, its Proposed Liquidator, or Hilco in respect of the assets or any information supplied. All parties must rely on their own enquiries and due diligence. Any information provided is for convenience only and has not been independently verified.
All offers are subject to the addition of VAT at the prevailing rate, where applicable. A non-refundable deposit equal to 20% of the agreed purchase price must be paid by the successful purchaser within 48 hours of offer acceptance. Payment of the deposit grants the purchaser the exclusive right to proceed with the acquisition of the relevant assets for a limited period and on the terms agreed. A Buyer’s Premium of 10% of the final purchase price is payable by the successful purchaser in addition to the agreed purchase price, is non-negotiable and is payable at the same time and in the same manner as the purchase price and forms a condition of sale.
Legal completion must occur within five (5) business days of offer acceptance, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and its Proposed Liquidator.
