CERATIZIT Group expands in Asia

CB Carbide is one of the leading carbide manufacturers in Asia, employing 1,500 people across 8 production sites in Taiwan and China and 13 sales offices worldwide.

CERATIZIT and CB Carbide will merge their existing Asian manufacturing and sales activities (without India) into a newly formed holding company, CB CERATIZIT Luxembourg SA. CERATIZIT and the shareholders of CB Carbide will each hold a 50-percent stake in the joint venture. The two privately owned companies have agreed not to disclose financial details of the transaction.

The joint venture company will sell products from both CB CERATIZIT and CERATIZIT in China, Taiwan, Korea, south-east Asia and Australia, while CB CERATIZIT products will be sold in Europe, India and the US via CERATIZIT’s sales network.

Chairman of CB Carbide Wan Lung Liao comments: “CB Carbide has excellent market positioning in Asia, combined with CERATIZIT’s outstanding technological knowledge and global presence, this joint venture will create exceptional value for all our customers. The joint venture company will focus to grow the Asian market while benefiting from CERATIZIT sales network in Europe and US.”

Jacques Lanners, CEO of CERATIZIT, says: “CERATIZIT already has a global production and sales network, but by entering this joint venture, we will be able to further increase our activities in the rapidly growing Asian market. We are very impressed by CB Carbide’s previous success and see the company as the ideal partner – together, we can become a leading manufacturer of hard-metal products and solutions in Asia.”

About CERATIZIT and CB Carbide

CERATIZIT S.A. is a pioneer and global player in sophisticated hard material solutions. The company operates from Mamer, Luxembourg. CERATIZIT is the world market leader in unique and consistently innovative hard material products for wear protection and cutting tools and is present in more than 50 countries. In the automotive industry, mechanical engineering, oil industry, medical systems, electronics as well as mould and die making customers benefit from this fact. With more than 400 active patents and 4,000 employees, CERATIZIT is your highpowered partner worldwide.

CB Carbide is an expanding major Asian hard material manufacturer with production sites in Taiwan and China. The company has a vertically integrated production from raw material to finished products. CB Carbide offers quality products, quick delivery, and personalized service at a competitive price to customers covering automotive, mold making, electronics and mining industries.

Picture: The owner family of CB Carbide and the Executive Board of CERATIZIT Group have signed the joint-venture contract for the foundation of CB CERATIZIT Luxembourg SA on Friday, October 1, 2010 in Luxembourg. From left to right: Thierry Wolter, Huei Liao (sitting), Peng Kee Ooi, Wan Lung Liao, Jacques Lanners, John O’Hara (sitting), Dr. Wolfgang Glätzle.

Press contact:

Mr. Jacques Lanners
CERATIZIT S.A.
Route de Holzem, BP51
Luxembourg-8201 Mamer
Tel. +352 31 20 85 432
jacques.lanners@ceratizit.com

Mr. Peng Kee Ooi
CB Carbide Group
69 Xingxi Road, Xinglin,
Jimei, Xiamen
China (361022)
Tel. +86-592-666-1000
pengkee-ooi@cbcarbide.com