The world´s current leading polymer distributor, Muehlstein (Norwalk, Connecticut / USA; www.muehlstein.com), and Europe´s largest, Ravago (Arendonk / Belgium; www.ravago.com), plan to join forces to create an even larger world market leader with EUR 5 bn in combined sales. The new giant´s 28,000 customer base in 80 countries will include most of the leading brands.

As part of the deal, set to close in the third quarter of 2006, Ravago will take an – as yet unspecified – equity stake in its US counterpart. Along with the existing Ravago units, Muehlstein group companies Channel Prime Alliance (www.channelpa.com) and Pegasus Polymers – the former serves the US market, while the latter is active in Europe and Asia – will continue to operate as separate legal entitites.