2025-08-01
classification：Company News
Ertian Su, Chairman of Global New Material International (right), with Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck (middle), and Kai Beckmann, Member of the Executive Board at Merck and CEO Electronics (left)
Frankfurt, 1 August, 2025?— Global New Material International Holdings Limited (“GNMI” or “the Group”) (6616.HK), the world’s leading?pearlescent pigment producer?with a comprehensive product portfolio for high-performance materials, cosmetics and industrial applications,?announced the completion of its €665 million acquisition of Merck’s Surface Solutions business (“Surface Solutions”), which will continue under the “Susonity”?brand. This marks the largest cross-border transaction?in China’s pearlescent materials sector and positions?GNMI at the forefront of the global surface performance materials industry.
GNMI’s strategic acquisition of Surface Solutions further?expands the Group’s geographical coverage and the sales channels of its principal business. With the completion of this acquisition, Surface Solutions’ production facilities in Gernsheim (Germany), Onahama (Japan), and Savannah, Georgia (United States) will become regional hubs of the enlarged business.
This?highly complementary combination accelerates the Group’s penetration into key high-end?markets, in particular?the global automotive and cosmetics segments, by incorporating Susonity’s specialized solutions for high-performance materials, cosmetics, and industrial applications into?GNMI’s product portfolio.
Ertian Su, Chairman of Global New Material International, said: “The completion of this strategic acquisition?marks a major milestone in our global expansion, underscoring our transformation from a leading pigment manufacturer to a comprehensive surface solutions provider. With our expanded international presence?and product portfolio, we are poised to solidify our leadership across the entire industry value chain. There is a?clear roadmap to unlock synergies and enhance operational efficiency?across the enlarged business. We are confident in executing?our strategy?to?drive growth through market and category expansion, and to deliver enhanced value to our customers, partners, and shareholders.”
Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck, said: “With the closure of this transaction, we are further sharpening our portfolio focus on technology-driven business. Alongside the recent acquisitions of SpringWorks Therapeutics, HUB Organoids, Unity-SC, and Mirus Bio, the divestiture of non-strategic business remains a key component of our M&A strategy, geared toward ensuring long-term growth through innovation.”
Kai Beckmann, Member of the Executive Board at Merck and CEO Electronics, added, “By divesting Surface Solutions, we are positioning our Electronics business sector even more strongly as a provider of semiconductor solutions. At the same time, GNMI offers new possibilities for the Surface Solutions business. This means that employees will gain long-term future prospects while customers will benefit from a broader product portfolio. We thank our colleagues for their dedicated work and valuable contributions they have made for Merck in the past and wish them all the best for the future.”
Around 1,100 employees, more than 600 of whom are based in Germany, have been transferred to GNMI. As part of the agreement with Merck, GNMI has guaranteed both the future of the Gernsheim site and the employment of its staff based in Germany until 2032. Moreover, Merck and GNMI have entered into a series of supply and service agreements to ensure the seamless transition of the business.
About Global New Material International (GNMI)
Founded in 2011, Global New Material International Holdings Limited (GNMI) (6616.HK)?is the world’s?largest manufacturer of pearlescent pigments. The company has its headquarters in Guangxi, China, and is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The company’s combined net revenue (pro forma) amounted to RMB 4.776 billion (approximately € 615 million) in 2024. Around 2,000 employees work at production facilities in China, Korea, Germany, Japan, and the United States. The company, which owns the Chesir, CQV, and Susonity brands, offers a full range of solutions – from high-quality premium products to standard products manufactured with cutting-edge technologies. With a portfolio of natural mica-based, synthetic mica-based, glass flake-based, silicon oxide-based, aluminum oxide-based, and aluminum-based pearlescent pigment products as well as synthetic mica products, GNMI offers high-quality solutions for high-performance materials, cosmetics, automotive, and industrial applications.
About Merck
Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across life science, healthcare and electronics. More than 62,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people’s lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From providing products and services that accelerate drug development and manufacturing as well as discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices – the company is everywhere. In 2024, Merck generated sales of €?21.2?billion in 65 countries.
Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck’s technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck operate as MilliporeSigma in life science, EMD Serono in healthcare, and EMD Electronics in electronics.
