Press release
Corporate Press
June 26, 2014

Evonik plans to reorganize the Group structure

  • Management holding company will concentrate on strategic management of the Group
  • Chemicals segments to be given greater entrepreneurial independence as separate legal entities
  • Better basis for differentiated management and targeted growth

Essen. The Executive Board of Evonik Industries AG today presented its plans to reorganize the Group structure to the Supervisory Board. The Executive Board wants to concentrate more on Evonik's strategic development within a management holding structure. The plan is for the three operating segments, Consumer, Health & Nutrition, Resource Efficiency, and Specialty Materials, to become three fully functional legal entities operating as limited liability companies (German legal status: GmbH). This would give them far greater entrepreneurial independence, allowing more targeted management of their respective businesses, position them even closer to their markets and customers, and bring a further improvement in efficiency. In the future, Evonik also intends to operate the present Site Services as a limited liability company (GmbH) with the involvement of the three operating segments. Further details of the planned new corporate structure will be worked out in the course of this year.

Klaus Engel, Chairman of Evonik's Executive Board, explained: "Through the planned reorganization of the management and portfolio structure we want to create a better basis for more differentiated management of our various businesses close to the markets and for more focused development. That will increase our strategic flexibility and strengthen our leading competitive positions in the different markets."

The demands made on managing and running the three segments already differ considerably in line with their respective market requirements.

The business model for the Consumer, Health & Nutrition and Resource Efficiency segments is based on providing customized, individual, innovation-driven solutions, and they operate primarily in markets with high margins, growth rates and entry barriers. In these segments, above-average profitable growth should be generated mainly by selective investments and acquisitions.
As a more product-oriented, energy and raw material-intensive supplier, the Specialty Materials segment is characterized principally by integrated technology platforms and efficient processes. Evonik wants to raise efficiency and effectiveness further in order to strengthen these competitive advantages. In the future, investments and, where appropriate, alliances should concentrate on securing and extending its good market positions.

Klaus Engel, Chairman of Evonik's Executive Board: "Through our Administration Excellence program last year we started to align Evonik's administrative workflows to the demands of specialty chemicals. Our latest plans are designed to pave the way for aligning Evonik's management model to the tougher competition in global markets."

Company information

Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders
in specialty chemicals. Profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company form the heart of Evonik’s corporate strategy. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms.

Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2013 more than 33,500 employees generated sales of around €12.7 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of about €2.0 billion.

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.