Perfect Fit - PS Translation

03|11 Issue 24 www.brenntag.com
Acquisitions
Perfect Fit
100 days in office
Steven Holland on his new role
as CEO of Brenntag AG
The winds of change
Portrait of Brenntag Maghreb

Editorial
Looking back is worthwhile
It is customary in December to review the year that has just passed.
We also like to do this and have found it to be a worthwhile activity
for Brenntag and its employees. You can look forward to an inter-
esting new issue.
Dear readers,
The year 2011 is coming to a close. The beginning of the
year marked a number of new milestones at our company:
our first annual report, our first press conference on
financial statements and our first General Shareholders’
Meeting. Everything went smoothly and we have already
turned our attention to writing the next annual report.
The tasks will not be any fewer in the coming year, but
we will be more experienced when it comes to presenting
ourselves as an MDax company.
You can look forward to two interesting interviews in this
issue of together magazine. The editors asked our CEO
Steven Holland about his first 100 days in office. Read
about how he is interpreting his new role and his plans
for Brenntag. In the second interview, Clare Waters, Managing
Director of Brenntag UK & Ireland, reports on the
acquisition of the Multisol Group and how its integration
is progressing.
The conflicts in North Africa have been omnipresent in the
media throughout the year. Brenntag operates in this re-
Cover:
Headquarter Brenntag AG, Mülheim/Ruhr
gion with a staff of roughly 100. In the Brenntag Maghreb
portrait you can gain an insight view on what it’s like working
under difficult conditions. Harald Mareich, site manager
in Guntramsdorf, Austria, also gives us insight into his
work in our series “A day in the life of...”.
The end of the year is often unintentionally hectic, both
at home and at work, when the final accounts need to be
settled or the last Christmas gifts need to be bought. We
hope that you are able to relax and unwind over the holidays
and enjoy the Christmas season. The same of course
applies to our employees who do not celebrate Christmas
– we hope you are also able to recharge your batteries.
We wish you a happy and successful new year!
Sincerely,
Hubertus Spethmann
Vice President Corporate Communications, Brenntag AG
2 BRENNTAG | together 03|11

“Multisol is
a great fit”
In this interview, Clare Waters,
Managing Director of Brenntag UK &
Ireland, reports on the acquisition of
the Multisol Group.
Page 8
Management News
Interview with Steven Holland 4
It‘s all about passion
Panorama
Brenntag Europe 6
Formulating success
Brenntag Asia Pacific 7
Engagement as key factor
Brenntag UK & Ireland 8
“Multisol is a great fit”
Insight
A day in the life of ... 10
The Superintendant of the
“Guntramsdorf Special Agents”
Brenntag Maghreb 12
A work in progress
BRENNTAG | together 03|11
The Superintendant of
the “Guntramsdorf Special
Agents”
Harald Mareich, site manager in
Guntramsdorf, Austria, presents his
successful pilot project.
Page 10
People
Farewell after
30 years
An era comes to a close after 30
years in the operative business.
Stephen Clark steps down as CEO.
Page 16
Brenntag Asia Pacific 14
Successful appearance for Food & Beverage team
Brenntag North America 15
Brenntag employees making a difference
Brenntag AG 16
Farewell after 30 years
Brenntag Schweizerhall 17
Practice makes perfect
Brenntag North America 17
US Congressmen visit Brenntag Northeast
Employee portrait 18
A passion for nature
People on the move 19
September to December 2011
Brenntag Canada 19
Brenntag employees compete to raise money
The together puzzle 20
Win an iPod Shuffle
Published by: Brenntag AG | Hubertus Spethmann (V.i.S.d.P.) | Stinnes-Platz 1 | 45472 Mülheim/Ruhr | Germany | hubertus.spethmann@brenntag.de
Editor-in-chief: Svenja Schierer | Tel.: +49 (208) 7828-7749 | svenja.schierer@brenntag.de
Design: Gathmann Michaelis und Freunde, Essen | Tel.: +49 (201) 438 708 22 | info@gm-f.de
Production: Woeste Druck, Essen | www.woeste.de
Photos: Brenntag AG (unless otherwise noted), Apple (p.20)
Translation: PS Translation, Germersheim | www.pstranslation.de
The together magazine is published in German, English, Spanish and French with a circulation of 13.000 copies and is also available online at
www.brenntag.com. The editorial deadline for Issue 25 is January 15th, 2012.
Contents
3

Management News
After the first annual general shareholders’ meeting Steven Holland
succeeded Stephen Clark in his role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
of Brenntag AG. After the first 100 days Steven Holland talked with
the editors about how he experienced the first three months in his
new position.
It’s all about passion
Steven Holland addressing
the shareholders
at the first public
general shareholders
meeting
4 BRENNTAG | together 03|11

BRENNTAG | together 03|11
Brenntag‘s CEO at an opening ceremony of a new distribution center in
Indonesia
It’s now about 100 hundred days since you took over
the role as CEO – how do you feel about your new role?
Steven Holland: I love my job. This is a fantastic company.
We have the best people in the world running a worldwide
success story. I was pretty sure I knew the early challenges
when faced literally with a world of opportunities.
Obviously priority and prioritizing is always on my mind.
It’s quite a challenge when leading a company that runs 24
hours a day. Sometimes I have to lock my faithful blackberry
in a cupboard otherwise the temptation to sneak and
look at messages during the night is just too tempting!
What is a typical day?
SH: There is no set format to my working day which is
normally booked fairly well in advance with the more formal
elements such as board meetings, investor and stock
market events. You can imagine quite a lot of time is spent
facing the media, major suppliers and major customers
and supporting the wider management team in achieving
their goals which are equally demanding and ambitious.
Does anything worry you?
SH: Well, worry is probably not the right word but the current
turmoil in the global capital markets presents some
strategic options. We are a resilient business and we are
trying carefully to cover all possible outcomes. Clearly
the continued uncertainty in the euro zone is not helping
business confidence of our customers or suppliers.
Safety has been set as a priority in the group. How do
you feel we are performing as a group?
SH: You are quite right that safety is our first priority and
we have world class examples of safety management in
the group and have made significant progress year over
year. It might not be known to some that we receive immediate
briefing on any lost time accident anywhere in
the world, and review safety at every board meeting.
Safety should be the first thing on the agenda of any
meeting, and I would also encourage anyone who spots
a near miss or potentially dangerous situation to report
it without delay to their supervisors.
Management News
Steven Holland with Henri Néjade, CEO Brenntag Asia Pacific, Mr. Ni (Managing
Director Zhong Yung) and CFO Jürgen Buchsteiner (from left to right) speaking
to the employees of Zhong Yung at a welcoming event.
Where do you see the group in the next few years?
SH: Well, we have certainly set a pace for everyone else
to follow. I’m very excited about our growth in Asia Pacific
and China. India is a tantalizing prospect in the future.
Equally in our more established regions there is a
huge scope of further growth and acquisitions. We have
a significant number of new managers and skilled workers
developing their skills and responsibilities, which represent
the future of our business. I genuinely feel that we
are in a class of our own and can put even more distance
between us and our competitors who would like to emulate
our success.
Do you have time to do anything except work?
SH: Well, I try to guard weekends with a passion as it’s my
main time with family and friends. I learned to fly light
aircraft about ten years ago and weather permitting it’s
a hobby I really enjoy – though not sure if any of my passengers
would say the same.
Is there anything you like to add?
SH: Yes, I would like to get back to the macroeconomic
environment which I think must be worrying some people.
The Brenntag Group is in great shape and has an
extremely strong business model and very solid financials,
which are rated as investment grade by Standard
& Poor’s. We are well equipped to cope with almost anything
the markets can throw at us, provided we don’t lose
momentum in capturing growth opportunities which
present themselves and make sure we adopt best practices
throughout the group.
As an international company we are accelerating our
journey to be simply world class in what we do everywhere
we operate. We are already a success story with
more to come.
Thank you for the interview!
5

Panorama
Blending solutions e urope
Together We Formulate
Your Success
The 14 representatives
of the Brenntag Blending
Solutions team at
one of their biannual
meetings.
Brenntag Europe
Formulating success
The future looks bright for the di-
vision at Brenntag Europe known
since 2004 as “Mixing and Blend-
ing.” The service division is launch-
ing a sales and marketing cam-
paign under its new name.
The vision of the renamed Brenntag Blending Solutions team
is to set the standard in Blending Services. Not only the name
of the team in place since 2004 has changed; the volume
of orders has more than doubled since it was originally established,
and the number of its employees has consistently
grown. With 2,400 in-house formulations and more than
10,000 customer-specific blends, Brenntag has become the
preferred strategic partner for our customers in Europe. The
team is closer to final customers throughout Europe thanks
to its large European network, allowing it to react more
quickly to their individual needs.
But just what does Brenntag Blending Solutions do? The
team develops individual mixtures and formulations, in close
collaboration with its customers throughout Europe. It also
advises customers on application technology for using these
products. Services in quality management, logistics and infrastructure
complete the portfolio. In a new sales and marketing
brochure entitled “Together we formulate your success,”
the team of 14 representativs and more than 140 sales
experts active in 16 countries presents its comprehensive
services for customers. Trevor Chatt, Head of European Key
Accounts and Brenntag Blending Solutions says: “It is very
important that we communicate clearly to both existing and
potential customers our capabilities we offer in the blending
segment. Our message is clear: Brenntag aims to add value
and to reduce complexity.
Good reasons for a pan-European team
The Brenntag Blending Solutions Panel, consisting of 14 representatives
led by Christian Deslypere, Business Manager – European
Key Accounts and Brenntag Blending Solutions, meets
twice a year. Despite the regional distance, the team members
work hand-in-hand on a daily basis. Every team member can
directly submit an inquiry to his/her colleagues in the European
network. If a mixture or formula cannot be produced in
one of the 27 application laboratories, it is assigned to another
location. The various centers of expertise for the individual industrial
sectors are regularly consulted by team members, to
be able to process pan-European inquiries as quickly as possible.
Exchanging best practices at the European level ensures
that everyone has the same basis of knowledge for pursing the
common goals.
The team also benefits from the experience of the worldwide
procurement network. Comprehensive knowledge of
the markets makes it possible to identify trends and find
the right supply partners. The team leverages its purchasing
power and reputation to secure direct access to an extensive
portfolio of high-quality raw materials and packaging solutions.
This allows the Blending Solutions team to individually
accommodate the needs and objectives of their customers to
find the ideal sourcing solution. The team also offers efficient
order processing and the right logistic solutions – the perfect
all-in-one package for customers, with a brilliant new name
and vision as of this year.
Contact: Christian Deslypere
(christian.deslypere@brenntag.be)
6 BRENNTAG | together 03|11

Representatives of
the countries who
finished the survey first
received an award: Fernando
Ramirez (China),
KC Lim (Malaysia) and
Paul Lo (Taiwan) with
Jiravadee Nipitsukarn,
Regional HR Director
South East Asia (from
left to right)
Note from the editors:
Final results of
the survey weren’t
published before
the editorial deadline.
BRENNTAG | together 03|11
The first Engagement and Culture survey for Brenntag
Asia Pacific was conducted in the course of three weeks
in July and August, asking nearly 1000 employees for
their opinion on various topics. One of the survey’s aims
was to measure the energy and passion the employees
have for their company. On the basis of the quick and
nearly complete response (98.89 %) alone it can be said
that the employees care for their working place.
Since the start of the integration process in the Asia Pacific
region the company made sure to create an environment
in which involvement and participation are encouraged.
The voice of every employee should be heard.
With this current initiative Brenntag Asia Pacific further
strives to accomplish its mission of being the preferred
employer within the industry. Jiravadee Nipitsukarn, Regional
HR Director, South East Asia underlines this fact:
“Our ultimate aim is to gauge and enhance intellectual
and emotional commitment of our employees with our
organization.”
Action plans will be formulated
The key engagement drivers factored in the survey included
people, work tasks, motivation, values, career
opportunities, recognition, quality of life, policies and
procedures, and compensation and benefits. The gathered
data suggested that the employees have a great
Panorama
Dedicated employees are one of the key factors for the success of a com-
pany. The management team of Brenntag Asia Pacific wanted to learn
more about the engagement of their employees, and their issues and
needs. Therefore they initiated an employee survey.
Brenntag Asia Pacific
Engagement as key factor
sense of accomplishment from their work, and find their
relationships with their co-workers and customers highly
rewarding and engaging.
The management team around Henri Néjade, CEO
Brenntag Asia Pacific, hoped for truthful feedback and
constructive ideas when initiating this survey. In order
to keep all responses confidential only the global HR
consulting firm, Aon Hewitt, who conducted this survey,
was able to receive and analyze the responses, which
they then summarize and send to the Brenntag management
team. Jiravadee Nipitsukarn: “We determined
Career Opportunities, Recognition and People Practices
have the greatest potential for enhancing employee engagement”.
As a result of this survey countries will develop individual
action plans to address gaps and areas for improvement
which became apparent through the study. The
management team intends on doing a survey every alternate
year in order to further strive closer to the goal
of being the preferred employer in the industry.
Contact: Jiravadee Nipitsukarn
(jiravadee.nipitsukarn@brenntag-asia.com)
7

Panorama
At the beginning of September Brenntag announced that it acquired the Multisol
Group, a specialty chemical distributor based in the United Kingdom. Together had
the chance to interview Clare Waters, Managing Director Brenntag UK & Ireland,
who led the team in this acquisition process.
At the signing of the acquisition contract: Paul Oliphant, CEO Multisol, Clare Waters, Managing Director
Brenntag UK & Ireland and Andrew Wilkins, COO Multisol (from left to right)
Brenntag UK & Ireland
“Multisol is a great fit”
Tanks and a filling
station at the Multisol
site in Irlam, Greater
Manchester
8 BRENNTAG | together 03|11

What was the strategic background behind this acquisition?
Clare Waters: Multisol is a leading independent specialist
chemical distributor operating within the oil and gas
sector and more specifically, focused on the lubricants
sector. With Brenntag’s strategy to expand its products
and services within this market, Multisol represents a
significant step forward with its range of high technology
fuel additives, base oils and specialty performance
fluids.
Operating in multiple geographies, particularly the UK,
France, CEE and South Africa, Multisol also offers strong
consolidation opportunities and the potential to leverage
Brenntag’s infrastructure and logistics network, in
conjunction with Multisol’s in depth technical expertise
and product portfolio, to drive sales growth.
A further important factor is Multisol’s strong mixing
and blending capabilities which reflects Brenntag’s
own strategy of expanding its value added services. All
in all, Multisol is a great fit within the wider Brenntag
Group.
What will be done to integrate the Multisol employees
quickly to the Brenntag network?
CW: Although Multisol will continue to operate as a
separate company within the Brenntag Group, we recognize
that there will be significant opportunities for
growth through the combined knowledge and expertise
of the two businesses, and these will be captured to ensure
that the value of our proposition to the market is
enhanced across all sectors and geographies.
Detailed information packs have been developed to introduce
Multisol’s employees to the Brenntag organization,
and a series of ‘getting to know you’ events have
been planned to ensure that all employees have the opportunity
to ask any questions they may have about the
transition, and to understand the part everyone can play
in making sure that this is a great success.
Will Multisol keep its name and corporate design?
CW: Multisol is well known in its markets and has a
very good reputation and high credibility with both
its customers and suppliers. Moving forward we don’t
want to lose the strong brand value that Multisol has
created and so in future the business will operate under
the brand name ‘Multisol – a Brenntag Group Company’.
How long was the whole acquisition process – from
the first contact to the final signing?
CW: It would be fair to say that the journey from our
first discussions with Multisol to the final signing has
been lengthy, close to a year in total. However, this
should not be seen as surprising since Multisol operates
in multiple geographic territories, and offers a wide
portfolio of products and value added services, and it
was vital that we fully understood the key drivers that
have under-pinned Multisol’s success.
BRENNTAG | together 03|11
How many people were involved in this acquisition?
CW: Although the core teams were essentially made
up of Brenntag UK and Multisol management, together
with Corporate M&A, Legal and Tax, we were also supported
by the provision of information from a wide
number of Brenntag countries, particularly CEE, Benelux
and France so it has truly been an international affair.
Is there a comparison between the acquisition of Albion
in the UK in 2006 and Multisol that can be drawn?
CW: Interestingly I think that both companies have an
almost identical business culture and prior to their acquisition,
both were seen as market leaders in their own
particular fields. Also, for both Albion and Multisol, acquisition
by Brenntag presented the chance to access
new opportunities through being part of the larger
Brenntag Group.
What do you expect from Multisol in the future?
CW: The lubricants market which is Multisol’s main area
of expertise is such that the total value chain is strongly
influenced by the automotive industry as the most important
end user of lubricants. Automotive formulations
are driven by demand from end users and OEMs (Original
Engine Manufacturers) for increasingly sophisticated
engine oils in line with ever more stringent emission
standards, higher fuel economy and improved durability.
Whilst lubricant volumes are stable in Western Europe,
the improvement in product specifications is driving
a move to purer base oils, and a much increased use
of specialty additives. Meanwhile lubricant volumes in
Central and Eastern Europe are growing.
With the high quality suppliers that Multisol enjoys for
both additives and base oils, they are in a strong position
to benefit from these market changes and so we
expect that Multisol will continue to build on what is an
enviable track record of growth.
What is your message to the new Brenntag employees
from Multisol and those Brenntag employees working
with them closely?
CW: I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to all of our
new colleagues. This is an exciting time for all of us and
we’re looking forward to what I’m sure will be a very
strong future development
Thank you very much for the interview!
Contact: Clare Waters (clare.waters@brenntag.co.uk)
Panorama
9

Insight
“The only stupid mistake is the one you make twice.” This
saying is well known to Harald Mareich, site manager
in Guntramsdorf, and one he takes sincerely to heart. In
August 2008, a continuous improvement (CI) pilot project
was launched at Brenntag’s oldest Austrian location,
with the goal of recognizing and eliminating errors. It
marked the establishment of the “Guntramsdorf Special
Agents.” But if this immediately brings to mind forensic
investigations or international espionage, you’ve probably
been watching too many television thrillers. More
on the name later.
Mareich, a trained textiles technician, joined the Neuber
Group in Guntramsdorf 17 years ago. It is said that love
opens up doors; his girlfriend at the time, now wife, was
already working for Neuber and suggested he apply for a
job. The father of two experienced all the changes of own-
A day in the life of...
The Superintendant of the
“Guntramsdorf Special Agents”
Harald Mareich is an old hand at Brenntag, having worked in vari-
ous positions in the company in the past 17 years. Since 2008, he has
served as site manager and “Superintendant” of the “Special Agents”
in Guntramsdorf, Austria. He explained to the visiting together edito-
rial staff how this came about.
ership through the years and dabbled in all areas of the
company, which turned out to be an advantage for him.
He was later promoted to operating manager, transferred
to Vienna Neustadt for six years in 2002, then returned
to his previous workplace as site manager in 2008. If you
accompany the manager over the 50,000-square-metre
premises in Austria, you’re sure to meet quite a few of
the site’s 125 employees. Harald Mareich has made it a
habit to shake every employee’s hand, regardless of how
much stress he is under. It is important to him “to take at
least a short amount of time for the employees, as a sign
of appreciation.”
The importance of transparency
Guntramsdorf has the broadest product range of all five
Brenntag locations in this alpine country. In addition to
Harald Mareich in
front of the CI wall of
the “Soko Guntramsdorf“
10 BRENNTAG | together 03|11

BRENNTAG | together 03|11
The site in Guntramsdorf is the hub for specialty chemicals in Austria. Tests are carried out in the application labs continously.
filling acids, alkalis and solvents, chemicals for food and
pharma production are cornerstones of the subsidiary
near Vienna. Guntramsdorf is unparalleled in Austria in
this area and serves as the hub for these specialty chemicals.
But the warehouse is also used as a transshipment
point for deliveries to eastern Austria and the bordering
countries of Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia
in particular. The warehouse can accommodate approximately
10,000 pallets, while the 25 tanks hold 1,100 m³
of liquid chemicals. Customer-specific formulations are
produced on-site in the numerous mixing facilities and
then packaged into containers of various sizes – a service
which customers greatly appreciate.
To continue to ensure customer satisfaction, the CI pilot
project was introduced here in 2008 under the supervision
of Thomas Kafka, CI coordinator for Austria.
As site manager, Harald Mareich is responsible for implementing
these measures in Guntramsdorf. A man
of action, he distinctly enjoys this challenge. “I want to
achieve something with my people,” remarks the Austrian
with great enthusiasm. And he has already succeeded
in this goal. The cornerstones of the CI project
are quality, costs, time and motivation. As part of the
project, transparent goals were assigned for each group
of employees, including team members, team managers
and the process coordinator, and each employee is
rewarded with a bonus for achieving these targets. The
goals for each individual department are also displayed
on the “CI wall” for everyone to see. All employees
were included in this project and every group chose a
name for themselves – which is how the “Guntramsdorf
Special Agents” came into being. Other amusing team
names include “CSI Guntramsdorf” for the laboratory
and “Team Tireless” for the shop.
Successful project in Guntramsdorf
The goal of the CI project in 2011 is to reduce complaints,
repair costs and overtime by 25% each. And the
site is well on its way to reaching and even exceeding
Insight
this goal. In collaboration with the employees, all processes
in the departments were examined and improvements
carried out. Sometimes it’s about minor things,
such as moving two pieces of equipment closer to shorten
distances and save time. Some of the basic CI principles
are very simple but extremely effective when taken
to heart, for instance: question conventional practices,
correct errors immediately and take small, direct steps.
Harald Mareich is convinced of the value of these principles:
“We can achieve a lot with a minimum of financial
resources. We have redistributed the workload and
are all pulling toward a common goal. A paradigm shift
has been achieved, and despite initial protests, everyone
has slowly come around. Now management and the
various teams need to stay on the ball to make sure the
improvement process continues.”
The figures speak for themselves. In the Food area for
instance, overtime was reduced by 80% in the first half
of 2011 in comparison to the same time period in 2010.
At the same time, hourly productivity of every employee
has improved thanks to capacity optimization,
improved workplace organization and training courses
for individual employees as needed. The CI project in
Guntramsdorf has been a major success and is another
reason why executive management in Austria has commissioned
CI coordinator Thomas Kafka with expanding
the successful pilot project to the other Austrian locations
in autumn this year. Harald Mareich is sure to be
an expert by then and can share his experience as head
of the “Special Agents” with his colleagues at the other
locations. After all, although you should never make the
same mistake twice, Harald Mareich is in the unique position
of being able to directly prevent many errors in
the first place.
Contact: Harald Mareich
(harald.mareich@brenntag.at)
11

Insight
The management team
of Brenntag Maghreb:
Chantal Mery, Fatima
Medani, Khalid Nassik,
Raouia Hellali, Carolin
Nguyen und Peter
Harsveldt (front: from
left to right). Wijnand
de Smit, Jean Yves
Pareyre, Carl Blomme
und Mustapha
Benmahrouche (back:
from left to right).
Brenntag Maghreb
A work in progress
The Arab Spring – one of the hot topics of 2011. Over the course of the
entire year, the attention of the media repeatedly centered on the pro-
tests and the political and societal changes. Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria,
which together make up the region known as the Maghreb, were also
regular focal points of the movement. Here you can read about how busi-
ness has developed for Brenntag Maghreb in the region and the daily
challenges faced by the Brenntag team.
Since 2006 Brenntag has had a presence in North Africa,
a region that has seen its share of unrest. Our staff
in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia has grown steadily and
currently comprises around 100 employees working in
a total of five warehouses and five sales offices. Brenntag
acquired the regional business of Group Alliance
at the end of 2005. Group Alliance started working in
that region in 1996 as a former DOW distribution company.
Still today DOW is one of the main partners in
the region. After acquiring Group Alliance one of our
goals was to bring the units in line with the Brenntag
approach. The structures had to be adapted and the
company made profitable. Since 2009 Wijnand de Smit
has been responsible for carrying out these goals as
General Manager of Brenntag Maghreb. “In the meantime,
the company has made an enormous step toward
meeting its targets. We started to make profit and now
must continue to move forward with the professionalization
of the company.”
As Wijnand de Smit knows from his own experience,
the business culture of this region differs from that of
European countries. For instance, ”Having the right
contacts is extremely important to understanding the
culture better and obtaining the trust of the local people.
This can take some time, but it makes our jobs
much easier in the end.” In addition, North Africa has
been in a state of turmoil since the beginning of the
year. The movement widely known as the Arab Spring
was launched in December 2010 with the revolution in
Tunisia and soon spread to a number of Arab countries
in the Middle East and North Africa. It has not only had
political repercussions, but affected business relationships
as well.
12 BRENNTAG | together 03|11

The Maghreb –
facts & figures
• Algeria, Morocco
and Tunisia make up
the Maghreb region
• Approximately 80
million inhabitants
• 50% of the population
is under 20
• 90% of the population
lives on the
coast
• Key industries:
Agriculture, raw
materials (e.g.
phosphate), oil and
gas (Algeria), tourism
(Morocco and Tunisia)
• Languages: Arabic,
French
BRENNTAG | together 03|11
Working in the shadow of change
There have been significant changes in the business
since the revolution began, particularly in Tunisia – not
necessarily in terms of sales, but in payment behavior.
“Companies that previously had very good payment
records can now sometimes no longer pay their bills,”
reports Raouia Helalli, General Manager of the office in
Tunisia. This unusual situation is due to several factors.
In some cases, companies are no longer being paid for
their services by their customers. Another critical point
is doing business with hotel suppliers. The hotel industry
has been hit hard by the revolution, and a number of
hotels are experiencing financial difficulties. This has not
made it easier for the local Brenntag team to do their
jobs. New business relationships must be established
and trust must be rebuilt between Brenntag and the customers.
Internal changes happened at the beginning of the year
in Morocco. Brenntag used to have two companies in the
country – one for commodities and one for specialties.
At the beginning of the year these two companies were
merged. An integration process always takes some time
but after half a year the new structure was clear and now
the company is ready for its new start. These two companies
are a perfect fit as they complement one another
and with this step Brenntag is now one of the most important
players in Morocco.
In Algeria the team has been confronted with new import
restrictions and financial regulations. In addition,
the type and scope of permits required for individual
commercial processes has been changing constantly.
The period of transition in the Maghreb region also represents
enormous potential for Brenntag. “When you
arrive in Algeria, you immediately notice the increase in
prosperity. Houses and infrastructure are being built and
new companies are setting up shops every day. This will
result in outstanding opportunities for Brenntag,” says
Mustapha Benmahrouche, Managing Director of Brenntag
Algérie. Brenntag must take advantage of this boom.
Compared with other companies, we have been active
in the market for longer and have been able to gather
experience and establish contacts.
The Brenntag team knows the importance of respecting
local culture while at the same time complying strictly
with Brenntag policies. With the reputation of Brenntag
and the local knowhow we are constantly on the lookout
for business partners, suppliers and customers who
work according to the same high ethical standards. Exciting
times await the team in the coming months and
years, keeping our eyes on the goal of becoming number
one in the entire region.
Contact: Wijnand de Smit (wijnand.deSmit@brenntag.nl)
Brenntag Maghreb – facts & figures
Employees: around 100 in the entire region
Insight
• Morocco: One office and one warehouse in Casablanca
Industries: Paints and Adhesives, Personal and Home
care, Water treatment, Food, Filtration
• Algeria: Three warehouses and offices (Algiers,
Oran, Annaba)
Industries: Paints and Adhesives, Food, Personal and
Home care, Agricultural products,
Filtration, Construction
• Tunisia: One office and one warehouse in Tunis
Industries: Paints and Adhesives, Food, Personal and
Home care, Filtration
• Brenntag Maghreb reports to Brenntag Benelux
• Four employees in the office in Vitrolles, France are
supporting the Brenntag Maghreb region (e.g. by
bundling the administrative and logistical necessities
for the region)
The office in Algiers
The team of Brenntag
Morocco in front of the
office in Casablanca
The warehouse in
Algiers
13

People
The Fi Asia Exhibition is the annual food ingredients trade fair in Asia
presenting the industry’s key players.
Brenntag Asia Pacific
Successful appearance for
Food & Beverage team
The participation of Brenntag at the Fi Asia in Bangkok
in September was organized by the Food and Beverage
Team of Brenntag Thailand headed by Pairash Wivatanakulkij,
Business Manager, Kancharat Treewatcharanon
and Nuttasit Kanchanapoomi. The team was joined by
Brenntag representatives from the food & beverage
teams from other Asia Pacific countries. Additionally,
Brenntag was joined by three principals in the exhibition
booth, namely Breko GmbH, Germany, Matrix
Flavours & Fragrances, Malaysia, and Cell Biotech, Denmark,
who gave brief technical presentations on their
latest innovation products.
The exhibition offers the opportunity to promote the
advancement of food and beverage ingredients and
to develop the professional knowledge and status of
its members. Brenntag showcased several ingredients
through product samples such as the tasty & healthy
soft served ice-cream that came in green tea and
yoghurt flavors with three toppings (red bean, oran-
ge and strawberry sauce), white soft steamed buns
with minced pork and cream fillings, healthy sparkling
white and red wine, and low-calorie cookies with
sweet pearl.
Kancharat Treewatcharanon, Area Sales Manager of
Brenntag Thailand, is satisfied with the results of the
three day exhibition: “We got a lot of positive feedback
from both existing and new customers. Existing
customers were interested in our new products and
how these could be applicable in their new projects. In
total, we had 450 potential customers interested in our
products, especially those that we showcased.” The exhibition
was a success for the whole Food & Beverage
team of Brenntag Asia Pacific. Next year, Brenntag Asia
Pacific will be joining the Fi Asia again, which will be in
Jakarta, Indonesia.
Contact: Kancharat Treewatcharanon
(kancharat.treewatcharanon@brenntag-asia.com)
A big team represented
Brenntag at the
exhibition with a lot of
enthusiasm.
14 BRENNTAG | together 03|11

Brenntag North America
Brenntag employees
making a difference
BRENNTAG | together 03|11
Over the years, Brenntag employees from North America
have volunteered and made charitable contributions to
many different causes, personally and through the workplace.
These include causes like disaster relief, food and
clothing drives, support of US and Canadian troops and
youth science education to name a few. The interest in
community programs has continued to flourish resulting
in the development of the “You be the Difference” campaign
and the beginning of a partnership with ‘Habitat
for Humanity’ in North America.
‘Habitat for Humanity’ is a non-profit organization dedicated
to providing decent, affordable homes to deserving
families in communities around the world. For every
local home built, a payment is sent to ‘Habitat for Humanity
International’ which funds a home in a developing
country. Habitat for Humanity’s Reading chapter will
be sending a number of kits to Lesotho, Africa to build
homes for people who have never had a roof over their
head.
Employees help to build houses
Brenntag employees pledged both time and money to
‘Habitat for Humanity’. The Brenntag Northeast Sales and
Management team worked on-site at four of the homes
in Reading in June. Following safety and procedural instructions,
they installed Dow’s STYROFOAM brand insulation,
installed attic ventilation fans, and completed
framing work in the attics. Rick Wilson, Reading District
Manager of Brenntag: “The day was scorching and our
team had the dedication to stay the course and finish
People
During this past summer, Brenntag volunteers from North America
rolled up their sleeves to help build local ‘Habitat for Humanity’ homes
as part of Brenntag’s ‘You be the Difference’ program.
the job. I am fortunate to work with such great people
at Brenntag and for the opportunity to do something so
positive for our community.”
In August, 26 employees from Brenntag Northeast and
North America volunteered their time to painting trim,
walls and ceilings and preparing kitchen cabinets for
installation. Bill Fidler, President and CEO of Brenntag
North America and member of the management board
of Brenntag AG, joined employees to put the finishing
touches on the homes. Bill stated, “Our employees make
the difference in their day to day roles within Brenntag.
Through their commitment, dedication and desire to
contribute, Brenntag and its employees are supporting
the local community through ‘Habitat for Humanity’ and
are helping to educate future generations through the
Chemical Educational Foundation.“
Brenntag employees were filled with joy and a sense of
satisfaction at the end of each build day and were happy
about collecting a significant amount of money for a
good cause. Because this effort was such a huge success,
in more ways than one, planning has already begun for
the 2012 ‘Habitat for Humanity’ build.
Contact: Lori Sachs (lsachs@brenntag.com)
With a lot of enthusiasm
Brenntag
colleagues helped build
houses for the Habitat
for Humanity projects
15

People
The Management Board presented Steve with two nice portraits.
Brenntag AG
Farewell after 30 years
At the end of July representatives of Brenntag’s global management
team came together in Reading with many long time friends and col-
leagues of Steve Clark, to thank him and his family for his outstanding
leadership and contributions over the past 30 years.
Following his Penn State University training and initial
employment as a certified public accountant, Steve joined
the company in 1981, and served in positions of increasing
responsibility, including President of two of the company’s
North American operating units and as Brenntag
North America’s Chief Financial Officer. In 1990 he became
the Chief Executive Officer in the US. Steve was also
heavily involved in chemical distribution organizations
during his career. Representing Brenntag on the National
Association of Chemical Distributors Board, Steve was a
significant architect in the development of the Responsible
Distribution Process® in 1991.
Numerous speeches by colleagues and a video presentation
relayed stories about Steve, with much laughter and
good humor. During Steve’s remarks at the party, he stated
many times that his success was due to having good
people working with him: “I’ve counted myself to be very
fortunate to have been able to work with the most professional
and knowledgeable group of people in chemical
distribution.”
Successful IPO was largest milestone
The milestones achieved under his leadership of Brenntag
North America, Inc. are many. More than 15 acquisitions
from 1990 to 2006 were successfully negotiated in the US
and Canada. Following the HCI acquisition in 2000, the existing
US distribution businesses were realigned and the
name Brenntag was first introduced in North America in
2001. The creation of Brenntag Specialties in North America
and the move to pursue significant growth in specialties,
was a vision he supported. During his global leadership
of Brenntag Group beginning in 2006, the company
made more than 20 global acquisitions including entry
into Asia Pacific. However the largest milestone is also
one of the biggest in Brenntag’s long history, which was
the successful IPO in March, 2010.
Throughout his tenure he went along with logo and leadership
changes, evolving customer needs, producer demands,
and a multitude of transformations in chemical
distribution. Through both economic prosperity and the
most challenging of times, he kept Brenntag headed in
the right direction and on the path for success and maintained
the friendly and unassuming personality which endeared
him to all he met.
Contact: Barbara Nothstein (benothstein@brenntag.com)
Steve Clark and his
long time secretary
Lorraine Witek
Steve Clark with his
family at his farewell
party
16 BRENNTAG | together 02|11

Brenntag Schweizerhall
Practice makes perfect
The works fire department (in-house) is an important
part of the safety concept at Brenntag Schweizerhall AG
in Basel, Switzerland. As a rapid response team, its responsibility
is to immediately react to incidents to minimize
damage and avoid having to call Basel’s municipal
fire department. The members of the works fire department
come from various departments of the Basel site
and take part in a training exercise every month. They
had the opportunity to participate in a special training
session in late September, when the municipal fire department
was looking for a suitable location to simulate
a chemical accident as part of a training course. Hans-
Peter Brader, CEO of Brenntag Schweizerhall, comments:
“This was a great stroke of luck for us. The members of
our fire department participated in a realistic simulation
side-by-side with professionals and took home valuable
lessons for their future training.”
The scenario of the training exercise: a chemical spill in
the basement of the acid/alkali storage facility causes
heavy smoke. The simulation proceeded as planned. The
works fire department reacted immediately to the alarm,
Brenntag North America
US Congressmen visit Brenntag Northeast
A warm welcome for Congressman Gerlach (left) by Bob Moser (right)
During the second half of 2011, Brenntag Northeast’s
primary distribution facility in Reading, Pennsylvania was
honored with visits from two United States Congressmen
representing the State of Pennsylvania, Charlie Dent and
Jim Gerlach. Invitations to visit the facility were extended
to each Congressman at the annual National Association
of Chemical Distributors (NACD) Washington D.C. fly-in
meetings held in May.
During the Brenntag facility visits, the Congressmen were
able to see first-hand the important role the chemical
distribution industry plays in both the Pennsylvania and
BRENNTAG | together 03|11
secured the site of the incident and prepared to brief
the city’s emergency crews. Once the firetrucks arrived,
the works fire department provided their municipal colleagues
with information about the accident and the
location. They also carried out support tasks. Cleaning
up the spilled medium and clearing the smoke was a
challenge, despite the use of powerful pumps and blowers.
After nearly three hours, the simulated accident was
under control and the exercise was concluded. It was a
valuable opportunity for improving safety at Brenntag’s
site in Basel. Both the commander of the professional
fire department and the leader of the works fire department,
Urs Heuschkel, were pleased with the results of
the exercise.
Contact: Hans-Peter Brader
(hans-peter.brader@brenntag.ch)
national economies. Both Congressmen learned about
chemicals and ingredients that are sold into various
manufacturing industries and to many business areas.
They were able to see Brenntag Northeast’s new SCR diesel
trucks and gain knowledge about Brenntag’s global
diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) business. Additionally, they
learned more about Brenntag and the NACD’s commitment
to safety, human health, environmental protection
and product stewardship.
Congressman Gerlach joined Brenntag employees for a
‘Town Hall’ meeting providing employees with an opportunity
to ask about current and pending United States
legislature. As a reflection of the visit, Congressman Gerlach
stated, “I appreciated the opportunity to meet with
the talented leaders and employees at Brenntag Northeast
and learn more about the chemical-supply chain distribution
work the company does each day. Listening to
employees‘ ideas and learning what issues are important
to them are keys to creating jobs and helping employers
like Brenntag remain competitive.“
Contact: Bob Moser (rmoser@brenntag.com)
People
The exercise on the
grounds of the Basel
facility was taken very
seriously.
Taking Congressman
Dent on the tour of
the site: Jack Thorne,
Bob Moser, Charlie
Dent (from left to
right)
17

People
Fernando Peña looks
forward to listening to
his new iPod Shuffle
in his leisure time
outdoors.
Employee portrait
A passion for nature
Fernando Peña from the Getafe site near Madrid won the puzzle
prize drawing and is now the proud owner of an iPod Shuffle. Here
he answers three short questions from the editors.
What is your job at Brenntag like and how long have
you been with the company?
I work in the quality assurance laboratory at Brenntag
Química’s central region site in Getafe, near Madrid.
My duties include carefully checking incoming raw materials
and the blends we produce on-site. I’ve been
working at Brenntag for six years now. It is very satisfying
for me to apply the knowledge from my chemistry
studies in a professional context. I’ve also been able to
learn many new things in our daily business with the
help of experienced colleagues from the industry.
What has been your best experience at Brenntag so far?
Professionalism, collegiality and team spirit are without
a doubt the most important elements that make
me glad I work at Brenntag.
Whenever we have regional holidays, the entire team
does activities together outside, like hiking or team
sports. A number of us have experienced real adven-
ture together, for instance several days of hiking along
the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in
Northern Spain. I love nature and sports so it’s a great
pleasure to share these two passions with my work colleagues.
What country where Brenntag operates would you
like to visit sometime and why?
The country that attracts me the most is without a
doubt the US. I’ve always been interested in American
television news and reports about the North American
culture. I also have some friends there and they have
many positive things to say about their lives. My girlfriend
and I enjoy traveling whenever we have a few
days off, and the United States are at the very top of
our destination list.
18 BRENNTAG | together 03|11

People on the move
Effective 1st September 2011
Roshan de Silva joined Brenntag and takes on the role as
Country Manager designated for Sri Lanka. He reports to
Christian Frimann, Director of Country Development for
South Asia & Middle East.
Leslie Tang joined Brenntag as Finance Director for Brenntag
China and in this position reports to Chee Ming Chan,
Managing Director for Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Effective 1st October 2011
Due to the integration of Zhong Yung into the structures of
Brenntag Asia Pacific, Kim Korff’s responsibilities have been
expanded to also cover North Asia. In his extended role as
Regional Operations Director, South, South East and North
Asia he continues to report to Jan Dam Pedersen.
Mala Rajpal was promoted to Financial Controller for
Brenntag South Asia and Middle East and is based in Mumbai.
In her new position she will manage the corporate finance
and accounting control function in Brenntag South
Asia and Middle East next to her current responsibilities for
India.
L. Balakrishna has been promoted as Brenntag India’s General
Manager for Nutrition and Health. In addition to his
new responsibilities, Balu will continue to head the Food
Brenntag Canada
Brenntag employees
compete to raise money
Canada’s national past time took to the streets once again
and Brenntag Canada was a proud sponsor of the Suncor
Street Hockey tournament taking place in Calgary. Pavement
replaced ice and running shoes replaced skates as
players competed within the confines of a fenced rink. The
Street Hockey Tournament is an event that Suncor holds
annually and that Brenntag has participated in for five
years. The Brenntag Bullets team consisted of six rugged if
not fearless individuals: Stephanie Christensen, Dan Ring,
Ryan Ross, Brian Carman, Tim Kletsky and Greg Hoffman.
This year there were 24 teams with over 140 players from
many companies such as Brenntag Canada, Suncor Energy
and Gibson Energy. Each team had three players plus a
goalie on the “ice” and was required to play three games
each consisting of 2 x 8 minute halves. The teams with
BRENNTAG | together 03|11
& Beverage business of Brenntag India. He continues to report
to Sanjay Gupta, Country Manager of Brenntag India.
Effective 1st November 2011
Jos Arons was appointed as M&A Manager for Brenntag
Asia Pacific and will be located in Singapore. He will directly
report to Knud Mohr, Vice President Strategy and M&A.
Bret Horace has been promoted to the position of Marketing
Director – Regulated Industries, for Brenntag Specialties,
Inc. (BSI). Focusing on the Food & Nutrition, Personal
Care and Pharmaceutical Industries, he will report to Ted
Hubbard, Executive Vice President, BSI.
Roshan de Silva Leslie Tang Kim Korff Mala Rajpal
L. Balakrishna
Jos Arons Bret Horace
the most wins and points went on to play in the finals. Although
the Brenntag Bullets did not make the finals, everyone
worked hard and played as a team. Proceeds from
this year‘s event, themed “Bring out the kid in you“, will
benefit “All That Kids Can Be”, a United Way initiative that
supports programs for children and youth in Calgary and
surrounding area. Close to C$26,000 was raised for this
worthy cause.
Contact: Stephanie Christensen
(stephanie.christensen@brenntag.ca)
People
The Brenntag Bullets
enjoyed taking part in
the charity event
19

People
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
A solid whose atoms or molecules are arranged in a regular pattern
(4th letter of the answer)
Name of the aid project which Brenntag’s “You be the Difference”
program supports (3 words, 1st letter of the 3rd word)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
The together puzzle
The most common chemical element in the universe (7th letter of the answer)
Compounds of this element are often used as pigments in dyes and paints
(1st letter of the answer)
An element that significantly changes the voice when inhaled
(1st letter of the answer)
An electrically neutral particle in the atomic nucleus (4th letter of the answer)
Name of the most commonly found metal in the earth’s crust (4th letter of the answer)
City where the headquarters of Brenntag Northeast and Brenntag North America, Inc.
are located (3rd letter of the answer)
New name of the Mixing and Blending division of Brenntag Europe
(3 words, 4th letter of the 2nd word)
Are you an expert in the field of
chemistry and know a lot about
Brenntag? Then this new version
of the together puzzle is just the
thing for you.
With a bit of luck, you could once
again win a 2-GB iPod Shuffle.
Use the specified letters from the
answers to the questions below to
form the solution word, this time
the name of a famous contemporary
scientist who has made
important contributions to the
world of chemistry. Hint: Some
of the questions may refer to the
magazine articles.
Email your solution, subject “together puzzle,”
along with your complete address and
phone number, to together@brenntag.de or
send a postcard with the same information to
the editors at the following address:
Svenja Schierer, Brenntag AG, Stinnes-Platz 1,
D-45472 Mülheim/Ruhr, Germany.
Deadline: January 27, 2012.
We hope you enjoy this puzzle!
Solution to the puzzle from
the 2/2011 issue:
Lavoisier
The MP3 player went to:
Fernando Peña
20 BRENNTAG | together 03|11