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Univar Solutions

#2319

Rank

$5.65B

Marketcap

US United States

Country

Univar Solutions
Leadership team

Mr. David C. Jukes (Pres, CEO & Director)

Mr. Nicholas William Alexos CPA (Exec. VP & CFO)

Ms. Noelle J. Perkins (Sr. VP, Gen. Counsel, Sec. & Chief Risk Officer)

Products/ Services
Chemical
Number of Employees
1,000 - 20,000
Headquarters
Downers Grove, Illinois, United States
Established
1924
Company Registration
SEC CIK number: 0001494319
Net Income
500M - 1B
Revenue
Above - 1B
Traded as
UNVR
Social Media
Overview
Location
Summary
Univar Solutions Inc. distributes commodity and specialty chemical products, and provides related services worldwide. It offers epoxy resins, polyurethanes, titanium dioxide, fumed silica, esters, plasticizers, silicones, and specialty amines; ingredients for cleaners, detergents, and disinfectant products; and base stocks, performance-enhancing additives for lubricants and metalworking fluids. The company also distributes specialty and basic chemicals, and ingredients used in skin and hair care products; and commodity and specialty products for meat processing, baked goods, dairy, grain mill products, processed foods, carbonated soft drinks, fruit drinks, and alcoholic beverage markets, as well as provides excipients, solvents, reactants, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and intermediates to pharmaceutical ingredient producers. In addition, it offers chemical products for use at various stages of production, from sap stain prevention to pulp and paper manufacturing; and chemistries and products used to sanitize, balance, and supplement municipal and industrial water. Further, the company provides chemicals to midstream pipeline and downstream refinery operators, as well as chemicals and services to upstream oil and gas sector for offshore production, oil extraction, and waste management activities. Additionally, it offers transportation and warehousing services, chemicals and hazardous materials handling, waste management services, inventory management, and blending, mixing, and repackaging services. Univar Solutions Inc. distributes its products through warehouse and direct-to-consumer delivery channels. The company was formerly known as Univar Inc. and changed its name to Univar Solutions Inc. in September 2019. Univar Solutions Inc. was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois.
History

On August 8, 1924, George Van Waters and Nat Rogers opened a small firm in Seattle, Washington, USA, buying and selling naval supplies, paint, raw materials and cotton linters. When Van Waters & Rogers entered the laundry supply business, it paved the way for the company’s future in chemicals. Near the end of the 1920s, the company moved into a 5,000-square-foot facility just south of downtown Seattle and, soon after, it expanded into the entire facility and plant next door. In 1936, Van Waters & Rogers’ sales topped $1 million, and by the end of the decade the company was closing on the $2 million mark. Locations were added in Portland, Oregon, Spokane, Washington and Los Angeles, California. A notable addition was the industrial chemicals division headed by Glen McElvain, a chemical salesman who was instrumental in the acquisition of local chemical companies. In the 1940s, sales increased from $2 million in 1940 to more than $18 million in 1949. Acquisitions led to market entries in San Francisco and Texas and the first two women were appointed to officer positions. In 1949, Van Waters & Rogers celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Univar acquired Industrial Materials Ltd. of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Braun-Knecht-Heimann of San Francisco in 1950. In 1956, Van Waters & Rogers made its first public stock offering. By the end of the decade, Van Waters & Rogers had locations in all 11 western states, Texas and Western Canada. Sales climbed from $18 million to more than $80 million in 1959.In the 1960s, company headquarters relocated to San Francisco for a brief period. By mid-decade, shareholders approved the merger of Van Waters & Rogers and United Pacific Corporation. In 1966, Van Waters & Rogers became VWR United and the decade ended with the company's listing on the New York Stock Exchange on March 6, 1969.

At the March 25, 1970 board meeting, co-founder Nat Rogers retired from the company and later that same year, Jim Wiborg became CEO. As leadership changed, so did the company’s name. The name "Univar" was adopted in 1974 and the company continued to expand through acquisitions with the stated goal of becoming a national distributor. The most important acquisition was the purchase of McArthur Chemical, which established Univar as a major distributor throughout Canada.

In the 1980s, Univar became North America's largest chemical distributor and sales topped $1 billion. Responding to new government regulations and environmental concerns, the company focused on product stewardship and introduced ChemCare, a waste management service. Univar acquired McKesson Chemical with financial backing from Royal Pakhoed and, combined, the two distribution giants formed a coast-to-coast network of more than 100 locations in the United States and Canada.

Acquisitions led to further expansion as Univar acquired four chemical distribution companies in Europe, forming Univar Europe. In 1996, Royal Pakhoed acquired Univar, and it merged with Royal Van Ommeren in 1999 to become Royal Vopak.

Univar focused on industries that were population-based, such as food, pharmaceuticals, personal care, coatings and energy. Univar hired specialists, scientists and PhDs to assist customers with product formulations and technical solutions. Growth continued through the acquisition of Ellis & Everard, which included operations in the UK, Ireland and North America. In 2002, Univar split off from Royal Vopak as an independent company and world leader in chemical distribution. In 2007, Univar purchased a leading competitor, CHEMCENTRAL and became a privately held company, owned primarily by funds managed or advised by London-based CVC Capital Partners. Univar ended the decade with $1.2 billion in net sales from the distribution of approximately 2.7 billion metric tons of chemicals in 2009.In 2010, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC acquired a 42.5% ownership interest in Univar and the company continued to grow. It acquired US-based Basic Chemical Solutions, a global distributor and trader of commodity chemicals, and the Quaron distribution business in Belgium and the Netherlands, in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

In 2013, Univar moved its corporate headquarters from Redmond to Downers Grove, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. In June 2014, Univar filed for a $100 million initial public offering.In June 2016, it was announced that Univar had joined the Fortune 500 for the first time.It employed nearly 9,000 employees worldwide and generated net sales of $8.3 billion in 2017.Univar's shareholders approved the company's acquisition of Nexeo Solutions, a long-time competing chemical distributor and former division of Ashland, Inc until 2011, in February 2019. Following completion of the acquisition, Univar rebranded itself as Univar Solutions on March 1, 2019. In December of the same year, Univar sold its North American Environmental Sciences division to AEA Investors.

Mission
The foundation to delivering on our commitment to our Mission Statement and our Core Values, and indeed to all of our activities as Univar employees, is our conviction and commitment that at all times we must act ethically and in compliance with applicable laws. We expect and require that Univar employees at all levels — and most critically at the highest levels of management — comply with the law and appropriate ethical standards at all times.
Vision
To be the world leader in chemistry distribution, products and related services where the best people want to work, benefiting all stakeholders.
Key Team

Mr. Nicholas Powell (Sr. VP, Pres of Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and Ingredients & Specialties)

Mr. James B. Holcomb (Sr. VP and Pres of North America and Chemicals & Services)

Mr. Patrick M. Jerding (Sr. VP & Chief Information Officer)

Ms. Heather Anne Kos CPA (VP of Investor Relations)

Ms. Jennifer A. McIntyre (Sr. VP and Chief People & Culture Officer)

Mr. George J. Fuller (Sr. VP of Local Chemical Distribution - USA)

Mr. Jorge C. Buckup (Pres of Latin America)

Recognition and Awards
{'name': 'Supply & Demand Chain 2018 Executive Award for IT/Technology', 'description': 'In recognition for the advancements made by Univar Solutions in their IT/Technology to innovate their supply chain solutions.'}, {'name': 'NAEM Best Of Sustainable Supply Chain Conference', 'description': 'In recognition for the advancements made by Univar Solutions in their sustainable supply chain solutions.'}
References
Univar Solutions
Leadership team

Mr. David C. Jukes (Pres, CEO & Director)

Mr. Nicholas William Alexos CPA (Exec. VP & CFO)

Ms. Noelle J. Perkins (Sr. VP, Gen. Counsel, Sec. & Chief Risk Officer)

Products/ Services
Chemical
Number of Employees
1,000 - 20,000
Headquarters
Downers Grove, Illinois, United States
Established
1924
Company Registration
SEC CIK number: 0001494319
Net Income
500M - 1B
Revenue
Above - 1B
Traded as
UNVR
Social Media