Occupational skincare provider, Deb Group Ltd., announced the company has reached an agreement to acquire Stoko Professional Skin Care from the Germany-based chemical manufacturer, Evonik.

A press release called the acquisition a "historic and significant investment in the away-from-home skincare sector."

According to Deb, the businesses have highly complimentary customers, products and geographic coverage. The addition of Stoko will further allow Deb to accelerate it's commercial strategy — a key element in becoming a gloabl leader in the prevention of occupational skin disease, the company says.

“It has been a longstanding ambition of Deb’s to join forces with Stoko," says Bryan Anderson, Deb CEO. "We want to create the world’s most comprehensive and effective skincare product range for the workplace drawing on the significant innovation portfolio within both companies. This, in concert with vital information provided by Deb’s unique compliance monitoring technology, will fundamentally alter and improve standards of skincare behavior.”
 
Patrik Wohlhauser, a member of the Evonik executive board, adds: “Evonik continues to direct its portfolio toward high-margin specialty chemicals businesses. While Stoko Professional Skin Care enjoys an excellent reputation on the market, its business model differs from that of Evonik today. As such, we have decided on a buyer that can best realize the growth potential of the business, we believe that Deb will be a good home for Stoko and its people.”

Headquartered in Denby, Derbyshire
 the Deb Group has been establishing skin care regimes for workplace and public environments, spanning industrial, commercial, healthcare and food sectors for over 70 years. It is headquartered in Denby, Derbyshire
. Evonik is a leader in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization.

The transaction is subject to regulatory and Evonik’s supervisory board approvals and clearances, and is expected to complete within the next few months, according to the release.