Ravago and Barentz Combine Chemical Distribution Activities

Ravago and Barentz are convinced that the combination of these chemical activities provides the joint venture with the required scale to become one of the leading chemical distributors with a strong focus on chemical speciality.

Nov 21 2011 --- The Ravago Group (Belgium) and Barentz Europe B.V. (Netherlands) decided to combine their chemical distribution activities in a new 50/50 joint venture Barentz Ravago Chemical Specialist SA. The new company will be operational as of 1 January 2012 and aims to become one of the leading chemical speciality distributors in Europe.

The new joint venture will have total consolidated sales of over 160M€ with an excellent geographical spread covering Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and several CIS countries as well as the Middle East and Africa. Additionally the new Joint Venture will cooperate with the Campi y Jové group, a joint venture held 50% by Ravago, which covers Iberia and North Africa and having sales of 250M€. Together this results in a very attractive distribution footprint for chemical producers with combined, non consolidated sales of over 400M€.

Ravago and Barentz are convinced that the combination of these chemical activities provides the joint venture with the required scale to become one of the leading chemical distributors with a strong focus on chemical speciality, thanks to the expertise of the teams, the pan-European and EMEA coverage and the strong relationships with principals and customers. Barentz Ravago Chemical Specialist SA will focus more and more on Pan European new business with current and new Principals.

The new joint venture will employ about 100 professionals spread over the different countries. Hidde van der Wal, CEO of the Barentz Group, will be the CEO of Barentz Ravago Chemical Specialist SA.