Vantaggi
Chemical Distribution is a very good business segment space to be in.It has long term sustainability. Because of its size/resources Univar can be attractively profitable if managed properly.Big is better in Chemical distribution due to critical mass as long as management understands that the customer needs to feel that Univar is a local service business.....
Svantaggi
Private Equity Ownership has demanded unreasonable short term profit objectives.This has proven counterproductive given several of the panic type moves made to support an attempt to reach those profit goals. Univar seems to have made change for simply changes sake....Many times the "baby has been thrown out with the bath water" There has been far too many senior and field management changes in too short of a time span (2 years) span.Many of those personnel changes have been filled by leadership with little or no experience in the industry.Profitability has suffered due to gaps in local business knowledge and P&L management (revenue decreases/expense increases). Univar is extremely top heavy with a producer like organizational structure.This has not produced the revenue impact needed to properly return the people investment. Extremely Poor employee morale exists.