Following negotiation with Special Situations Venture Partners 2 (SSVP 2) fund which is exclusively advised by Orlando Management AG (Munich), a leading private equity investment advisor, Sojitz Corporation (“Sojitz”) has signed definitive agreements to acquire 100% of the shares in solvadis holding S.à r.l. (“solvadis”), one of the leading chemical marketing and distribution companies in Europe. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals. Through this transaction, Sojitz aims to further bolster its chemical business and sustainable earnings by making solvadis a fully-owned Sojitz subsidiary, thereby acquiring a new business platform in Europe.

Sojitz Group, with solvadis, will contribute to the European chemicals industry by providing a stable supply of various chemicals, and will become one of the largest chemical marketing companies in the world.

"We are extremely pleased that solvadis will be our dedicated marketing company in the European region," said Tsutomu Tanaka, MEO of Sojitz Corp., "solvadis's industry knowledge and logistics network will provide suppliers and customers with the highest possible service in the industry."

"This agreement will create value and invigorate our distribution and marketing network with a higher key competence in our defined business fields," said Andreas Weimann, CEO of solvadis group.

About Sojitz

Sojitz Corporation is a Tokyo, Japan based company and was formed through the union of Nichimen Corporation and Nissho Iwai Corporation, both companies that boast incredibly long histories. For more than 150 years, their business has helped support the development of countless countries and regions. Today, the Sojitz Group consists of approximately 400 subsidiaries and affiliates located in Japan and throughout the world, developing wide-ranging general trading company operations in a multitude of areas and regions.

Sojitz Group produces and sells methanol in the Asia region, with sales of more than 1 million tons annually. There is wide-ranging demand for methanol as a basic ingredient in products including paints, plastics, adhesives, and medicines, and it has also garnered interest as a future source of environmentally-friendly “clean energy.” Through this acquisition, Sojitz Group aims to expand its annual trading volume to more than 2 million tons and enlarge the company’s position as a global player within the methanol industry. At the same time, following completion of the transaction, Sojitz aims to create synergies within the basic and specialty chemical sectors, integrating the marketing and distribution strengths of solvadis group in Europe into Sojitz’ global sales network.

www.sojitz.com

About solvadis group

solvadis group is a Frankfurt, Germany based company specializing in the European and international marketing and distribution of chemical and pharmaceutical products. Having emerged from former Metallgesellschaft AG the group has since developed into a reliable and respected partner of the chemical industry. With its proven marketing concept and its long-term relationships to producers and customers, solvadis has established itself as one of the leading chemical marketers and distributors.
The company is recognized for its strengths in sales of basic chemicals such as sulphur, sulphuric acid, and in particular, methanol, of which it handles more than 1 million tons per year. Utilizing its chemical tanks and other logistics facilities at the heart of Europe’s industrial area along the river Rhine.

Company Overview - solvadis holding S.à r.l.

www.solvadis.com

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