26 Oct 2012

Clariant and Wilmar establish Joint Venture for amines and selected amines derivatives

50-50 Global Joint Venture
Clariant’s Amines Competence meets Wilmar’s Oleochemical Expertise

Muttenz / Singapore, October 26, 2012 – Clariant Ltd, a world leader in specialty chemicals, and Wilmar International Limited, a leading Asian agribusiness group, have, through their respective subsidiaries, signed an agreement to establish a 50-50 joint venture as the global platform for production and sales of amines and selected amines derivatives. The joint venture will be headquartered in Singapore with global sales, distribution and production affiliates. Subject to receipt of regulatory approvals, including merger clearances, the joint venture is expected to be operational in spring of 2013. “Wilmar and Clariant will leverage on their companies’ individual strengths to create a global platform with significant growth opportunities. With this first step, both partners are dedicated to creating a new leading player in the global amine and amine derivatives market. For Clariant it is also an important next move on our way to further optimizing our portfolio”, said Clariant CEO Hariolf Kottmann. “This collaboration combines Wilmar’s integrated agribusiness model and our large presence in basic and downstream oleochemicals with Clariant’s technical expertise and established market presence in amines. The joint upstream and downstream strengths of our businesses make the merits of this venture very compelling”, said Kuok Khoon Hong, Chairman & CEO of Wilmar.

Clariant will contribute its Industrial & Consumer Specialties (ICS) Business Unit’s sales activities of relevant amines and defined derivatives to the joint venture as well as its amines plant in Germany and production output from its amines plant in Brazil. Headquartered in Muttenz, Switzerland, ICS has the highest sales volume in the Clariant Group and is one of the largest providers of specialty chemicals and application solutions for consumer care and industrial markets. Wilmar will contribute a new plant in China as well as its oleochemical expertise, including access to renewable raw materials. Wilmar is among the world's largest processors and merchandisers of palm and lauric oils. “Due to its strong roots in Asia combined with plans to expand the business globally, Wilmar is an excellent partner for Clariant to support our customer base in all parts of the world”, said Michael Willome, Head of Business Unit ICS.

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Notes for editors

www.clariant.com

Clariant is an internationally active specialty chemical company, based in Muttenz near Basel. The group owns over 100 companies worldwide and employed 22.149 employees on December 31, 2011. In the financial year 2011, Clariant produced a turnover of around CHF 7.4 billion. Clariant is divided into eleven business units: Additives; Catalysis & Energy; Emulsions, Detergents & Intermediates; Functional Materials; Industrial & Consumer Specialties; Leather Services; Masterbatches; Oil & Mining Services; Paper Specialties; Pigments; Textile Chemicals. Clariant focuses on creating value by investing in future profitable and sustainable growth, which is based on four strategic pillars: Improving profitability, innovation as well as research and development, dynamic growth in emerging markets, and optimizing the portfolio through complementary acquisitions or divestments.

www.wilmar-international.com

Wilmar International Limited, founded in 1991 and headquartered in Singapore, is today Asia’s leading agribusiness group. Wilmar is ranked amongst the largest listed companies by market capitalisation on the Singapore Exchange. Wilmar’s business activities include oil palm cultivation, oilseeds crushing, edible oils refining, sugar milling and refining, specialty fats, oleochemicals, biodiesel and fertilisers manufacturing and grains processing. At the core of Wilmar’s strategy is a resilient integrated agribusiness model that encompasses the entire value chain of the agricultural commodity processing business, from origination and processing to branding, merchandising and distribution of a wide range of agricultural products. It has over 400 manufacturing plants and an extensive distribution network covering China, India, Indonesia and some 50 other countries. The Group is backed by a multinational workforce of approximately 90,000 people. Wilmar’s portfolio of high quality processed agricultural products is the preferred choice of the food manufacturing industry, as well as the industrial and consumer food catering

businesses. Its consumer-packed products occupy a leading share in its targeted markets. Through scale, integration and the logistical advantages of its business model, Wilmar is able to extract margins at every step of the value chain, thereby reaping operational synergies and cost efficiencies. Wilmar remains a firm advocate of sustainable growth and is committed to its role as a responsible corporate citizen.