I realise that many of you will be excited as I am about this announcement, but will also naturally ask
what does this mean for me? Well for the moment, its business as usual as both companies will remain competitors in the marketplace while the formalities are concluded and regulatory authorities have the opportunity to review
the deal. In a few months time, we will be one company and the hard work of successfully integrating these two companies will begin in earnest. We value your talent and skills and will need your help as we bring our two companies
together to become the most valued chemical and ingredient distributor in the world.
In preparation, there will be a considerable amount of planning that
will need to take place. To ensure this is done thoroughly and properly I have announced two new, dedicated roles within Univar to lead the process. First, Jen McIntyre, our Chief Supply Chain Operations Officer, will step out of her
current role and become Chief Integration Officer.
In this role, Jen will be responsible to me for the successful integration of our two Companies,
adhering to the guiding principle of becoming the most valued chemical and ingredient distributor in the world by combining the best of the best.
Secondly, managing such a complex project takes a very particular set of experience and skills, and Im delighted to announce that Univars Chief
Transformation Leader, Steve Richards, will take on the full time role as Director of the Integration Management Office, or IMO for short. All the work streams involved in the successful merger of the companies will be run by
Steves IMO.
Soon, he and Jen will work with counterparts in Nexeo to build out their integration teams, which will come from every corner of both
companies. More details to come as the plans are developed. Between now and closing we will also carry out a comprehensive review of what the right strategy and approach is for your impressive plastics business in North America, Europe and
Asia.
Outside of Univars small but highly successful Distrupol business in Northern Europe, Univar has not traditionally operated in polymer
distribution. So establishing whether we are the best home for this industry leading business, to maximize its undoubted potential, is a very important question and one that this review will seek to answer. I commit that we will be as
transparent and timely as possible with providing updates as further information becomes available.
I want you to know that I couldnt be more
pleased by this announcement and the opportunity it affords people in both companies to be part of something very special: combining the best of the best to build the most valued chemical and ingredient distributor in the world and the
leading destination for digital commerce and content in our industry. Thanks for listening and I look forward to meeting and talking with you all again very soon.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 codified in Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, as amended. Some forward-looking statements
may be identified, without limitation, by the use of forward-looking terminology such as anticipate, assume, believe, estimate, expect, intend, plan,
project, may, will, could, would and similar expressions. These forward-
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