SUZHOU – Ventec International will merge with a major Germany distributor in a deal announced today and expected to be completed early this year.

Ventec's management said it has entered negotiations to merge with Kirchheimbolanden, Germany-based TMT Trading, a distributor of PCB base materials including consumables and flex- and rigid-flex circuit board materials.

The merger is expected to take effect in early 2016, officials said, and until that time, both companies will remain fully independent entities and business will continue as usual.

Ventec is a manufacturer of polyimide and epoxy-glass laminates and prepregs.

TMT is a longtime distributor of Ventec materials. It was founded in 2003 by Thomas and Carmen Michels. Neither company commented on the effects, if any, to existing partnerships or agreements with other vendors.

The merger will widen Ventec’s product offering to include complementary products such as back-up, entry and routing materials, foils, clean room products and coatings, offering a one-stop-shop for customers of laminates and PCB base materials, Ventec said.

“Our combined company will be in a stronger position for continued growth over the long term," Ventec CEO Tony Lau said. "We will have enhanced product offerings, allowing us to better serve our global clients, as well as the opportunity to attract new customers and expand into new niche markets.”

Ownership relationships between laminate producers and distributors are not common but not unique, either. Since 2004, Redfern Partners has owned a small stake in Isola.