Clariant AG: Clariant to focus on its core high value specialty businesses

Clariant to focus on its core high value specialty businesses 
       

• Due to the current market conditions, Clariant and SABIC decided to temporarily suspend the negotiations regarding the intended formation of the Business Area High Performance Materials
• The decision was taken to safeguard the best interests of the respective shareholders of both companies
• Clariant will focus on its existing core Business Areas Care Chemicals, Catalysis and Natural Resources and will continue to concentrate on providing best customer experience and fast, reliable customer fulfillment
• Divestment of Pigments is unaffected and will continue as previously announced
• Clariant decided to also dispose of the entire Masterbatches business to maximize value creation potential

Muttenz, July 25, 2019 - Clariant and SABIC have agreed to temporarily suspend the discussions on the intended business combination High Performance Materials (HPM), consisting of Clariant’s Additives and high value Masterbatches and parts of SABIC’s Specialties business.

Given the current market conditions, both parties have decided that temporarily suspending the negotiations is in the best interests of the respective shareholders of both companies.  

As part of the portfolio upgrade announced in September 2018, Clariant will continue with the divestment of the Pigments business and has decided to also divest the entire Masterbatches business including both, standard and high value Masterbatches. These divestments are expected to be concluded unchanged by end 2020.

The proceeds from the divestments will be used to invest in innovations and technological applications within the core Business Areas, to strengthen Clariant’s balance sheet and to return capital to shareholders.

The new Clariant will benefit from a stronger focus on differentiated, customer-specific products and offerings with attractive growth prospects and above average value potential. With this more streamlined portfolio structure Clariant will be better able to intensify the focus on customer experience and fast, reliable customer fulfillment, as well as on the development of innovative and sustainable products and applications. This will generate a competitive advantage for customers and hence enable Clariant to realize above-market growth, higher profitability and stronger cash generation. 

CORPORATE MEDIA RELATIONS	INVESTOR RELATIONS
JOCHEN DUBIEL Phone [phone] [e-mail]	ANJA POMREHN Phone [phone] [e-mail]
CLAUDIA KAMENSKY Phone [phone] [e-mail]	MARIA IVEK Phone [phone] [e-mail]
THIJS BOUWENS Phone [phone] [e-mail]
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This media release contains certain statements that are neither reported financial results nor other historical information. This document also includes forward-looking statements. Because these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual future results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond Clariant’s ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions, currency fluctuations, the behavior of other market participants, the actions of governmental regulators and other risk factors such as: the timing and strength of new product offerings; pricing strategies of competitors; the Company’s ability to continue to receive adequate products from its vendors on acceptable terms, or at all, and to continue to obtain sufficient financing to meet its liquidity needs; and changes in the political, social and regulatory framework in which the Company operates or in economic or technological trends or conditions, including currency fluctuations, inflation and consumer confidence, on a global, regional or national basis. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward- looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. Clariant does not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of these materials.     www.clariant.com     Clariant is a focused and innovative specialty chemical company, based in Muttenz near Basel/Switzerland. On 31 December 2018, the company employed a total workforce of 17 901. In the financial year 2018, Clariant recorded sales of CHF 4.404 billion for its continuing businesses. The company reports in three business areas: Care Chemicals, Catalysis and Natural Resources. Clariant’s corporate strategy is based on five pillars: focus on innovation and R&D, add value with sustainability, reposition portfolio, intensify growth, and increase profitability.

Attachment

• Deal Suspension_Media Release