DKSH Performance Materials is enlarging its footprint in Europe Donnerstag, 27. Juni 2013 - 09:29

Zurich, Switzerland, June 13, 2013 – DKSH Business Unit Performance Materials, a leading specialty chemicals distributor with blanket coverage in Asia and Western Europe, is strengthening its position in the European Market. Last year, DKSH acquired the Swiss specialty chemicals distributor Staerkle & Nagler to enhance its position as a pan-European distributor, particularly in the markets of Austria and Switzerland. In the meantime, the successful integration has been completed. Since June 1, 2013, DKSH is also a member of the FECC. Thomas Sul, Vice President Europe DKSH Performance Materials, comments: “Our distribution network covers the whole of Western Europe and we believe that joining the FECC will give us an opportunity to network with the leading companies in our industry. In view of the increasingly important cross-border aspects in our business development efforts, the FECC is the right platform to tackle regulatory and legislative challenges within the EU. We aim to play an active role in this association in order to support and benefit from the work done by the many committees.” Moreover, several important new and exclusive distribution partnerships will start in 2013: With Doxa, a Taiwanese company specialized in additives for coatings, inks and plastics, DKSH signed a contract to distribute their additives such as dispersants, defoamers and leveling agents. In addition, DKSH expands the existing long-standing cooperation with Nagase for its specialty additives range for the personal care industry and in the food additives area, DKSH teams up with The Wright Group. New collaborations with Dow Corning (for silicone derivatives for the composite industry) and Silverhawk (cellulose ether for coatings) are underway, too. In order to further strengthen the European operations and focus on offering value added services to customers, DKSH Performance Materials has invested in additional sales personnel in Germany, Spain, UK, France and Italy. Last, on the services side, the European Regulatory Affairs Competence Center in Lyon was expanded. A highly specialized team of regulatory experts offers centralized functions for registrations (REACH), safety, health and environment and quality assurance (including multisite ISO certification, supplier audits and internal audits). DKSH Performance Materials is confident that these initiatives will create excellent business opportunities and provide more customers with the right products and high-quality services while contributing incrementally to the Group’s overall earnings and profitability over time.

About DKSH DKSH is the leading Market Expansion Services provider with a focus on Asia. As the term “Market Expansion Services” suggests, DKSH helps other companies and brands to grow their business in new or existing markets. Publicly listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since March 2012, DKSH is a global company headquartered in Zurich. With 680 business locations in 35 countries – 660 of them in Asia – and 25,900 specialized staff, DKSH generated net sales of CHF 8.8 billion in 2012.

DKSH Business Unit Performance Materials is a leading specialty chemicals distributor and provider of Market Expansion Services for performance materials, covering Europe, North America, and the whole of Asia. The Business Unit sources, develops, markets, and distributes a wide range of specialty chemicals and ingredients for pharmaceutical, personal care, food & beverage, as well as various industrial applications. In addition, it creates innovative and cutting-edge concepts and applications in 23 innovation centers located worldwide. With 80 business locations in 26 countries and around 950 specialized staff, Business Unit Performance Materials generated net sales of CHF 751 million in 2012.