UCB Group

The UCB Group, one of the largest enterprises in Belgium, is a world class pharmaceutical and specialty chemical company.

Founded on January 18, 1928, it has merged with other companies, themselves often the result of previous mergers. One of these was the owner of the oldest chemical factory in Belgium, built in the 18th century on a site at Drogenbos, and which is still in operation.

The business activities of UCB are centred around two industrial Sectors: Pharma and Surface Specialties. The Group has withdrawn from its most cyclical activities and its strategy consists of specialising in product ranges with high added value, resulting from the company's own research, in markets where UCB aims to be amongst the world leaders.

Each Sector has a decentralised organisation, with profit centres by type of market or activity. The strategic guidelines of the Group are fixed by the Executive Committee, which, with assistance from Central Services, is responsible for the co-ordination and control of the two Sectors in the fields of finance, administration, legal, human resources and investment. This type of management structure gives UCB the flexibility to seize opportunities, take decisions rapidly and provide the best possible service to the customer.

The development of markets and products is reflected in the structure. The UCB Group currently comprises the parent company, UCB SA, together with about one hundred and fifty subsidiaries and associated companies in Europe, but also in the Americas and Asia, in countries with rapid growth. UCB also covers the whole world through its agents, distributors and licensees and its products are sold in virtually every country.

The Group is headquartered in Brussels (Belgium) and employs about 12,000 people, of whom more than half are in the Pharma Sector. Nearly two thirds of those employed work in Europe. With also a strong presence through operations in the US and Asia, UCB has grown into company with a global reach.