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NEWS BULLETIN
CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION
DKSH ON THE UP
DKSH has reported improved results across its businesses for 2019, with group sales up 2.1 per cent compared to 2018 at SFr 11.6bn ($11.8bn) and adjusted operating profit up 10.1 per cent at SFr 279.9m. “We improved the performance across all Business Units for the first time in years despite restrained consumption in Thailand and turbulences in Hong Kong,” says CEO Stefan P Butz. “I am especially pleased that profits are increasing again in Business Unit Consumer Goods and that we, on group level, delivered four value-creating acquisitions. Thanks to the good team effort, DKSH is better positioned for the future and looks ahead with confidence.” DKSH has meanwhile signed an agreement to acquire specialty chemicals distributor Axieo, which will expand the footprint of its Performance Materials Business Unit in the Pacific region and take it into the agrochemicals sector in Australia and New Zealand. “By combining DKSH’s international expertise and Axieo’s local experience, we will generate more value for manufacturers and customers,” says Steve Dawson, Axieo CEO. “The acquisition marks the beginning of
HCB MONTHLY | MARCH 2020
another exciting chapter in our almost 70-year history. We look forward to contributing to our joint future success.” www.dksh.com GTM BIG IN PAINT
GTM Holdings, the largest independent chemical distributor in Latin America, has opened a technical development laboratory for the paint market. The new lab in Guatemala aims to support suppliers and customers with new technologies in applications, and fits with the company’s global strategy of offering customised products and solutions to its customers. www.gtmchemicals.com NEW BUSINESS FOR OQEMA
The Oqema Group is to acquire Danish chemical distributor Chemark, a specialist in solvents that has been active in the Nordic distribution market for around 20 years and has an annual turnover of some €40m. Anders Englund and Peter Nielsen, Chemark’s managing directors for the past 12 years, will continue to manage the company after the acquisition has been finalised. Oqema is one of the leading chemical distributors in Europe with
representation at 45 locations across 21 nations. Peter Overlack, CEO of Oqema (pictured opposite), is pleased about the growth in Northern Europe and with this step, together with his team, is consistently continuing the company’s European strategy: “Of course, Chemark’s sales are only manageable given the Scandinavian market as a whole. What convinces us are the quality of the business, the quality of the management - and the location in the greater Copenhagen area, which offers an excellent base of operations for expansion into Sweden, Finland and Norway. The company has already extended its feelers to neighbouring markets. We will be happy and committed to develop this further.” Oqema has also struck a distribution agreement with Italmatch Chemicals, a specialist in performance additives for water and process treatment, oil and gas, industrial lubricants and plastics. Oqema is now exclusive distributor for Italmatch’s Advanced Water Solutions (AWS) range in the Benelux, France, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine and the Baltic states. “We look forward to this new distribution partnership with Oqema,” says Mark Eyers, global vice-president of the AWS business unit at Italmatch. “Oqema’s strong market and application experience, its proven performance as a value creator in the distribution markets combined with its willingness and capability to represent the complete Italmatch AWS product range are a good guarantee for a successful collaboration.” oqema.com OMYA, IDWALA FORM JV IN ZA
Omya International and Idwala Industrial Holdings have established a joint venture in South Africa, Omya Idwala SA, for the distribution of specialty chemicals and calcium carbonate. Omya Idwala SA will use Idwala’s local expertise and Omya’s growing position across the country to offer a full range of Idwala products and imported Omya products. “As a leading supplier of high-quality calcium carbonate products and one of the largest distributors of specialty chemicals worldwide, we are very excited to significantly expand both our chemical products portfolio and our geographical presence in South Africa,” says Harald Pfaller, Omya’s CEO
