Avantor™ Performance Materials Files Suit Against IBM Over Failed SAP® Software Implementation

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Avantor™ Performance Materials, a global manufacturer of high-performance chemistries and materials, has filed a lawsuit against International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) in connection with a failed SAP® software implementation.

Avantor's complaint was filed on November 8, 2012, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. It alleges that IBM, retained by Avantor to upgrade the company's global computer systems to an SAP platform, fraudulently misrepresented the capabilities of its proprietary software solution and engaged in other misconduct leading to a failed implementation in Avantor's U.S. locations. The complaint includes claims for fraud and breach of contract.

"IBM representatives assured us that its Express Life Sciences Solution, a pre-packaged software solution, was suitable to run Avantor's core business processes," says John Steitz, President and CEO of Avantor. "In fact, the solution—and the service and support offered by IBM throughout the implementation—proved to be woefully misaligned with the unique needs of our company and our customers."

IBM's Express Life Sciences Solution runs on a software platform known as SAP, which is licensed by SAP America, Inc., and developed by SAP AG.

Over the past approximately seven months, Avantor has undergone an aggressive, company-wide initiative to recover from the failed SAP implementation, and Avantor is now largely operating at pre-SAP implementation service levels.  Avantor remains committed to providing outstanding quality and service to its global customers and continuing its growth trajectory.

In the lawsuit, Avantor is seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages from IBM. Avantor is represented in this lawsuit by Lowenstein Sandler PC and Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP.

About Avantor™ Performance Materials
Based in Center Valley, PA (USA), Avantor Performance Materials manufactures and markets high-performance chemistries and materials around the world under several respected brand names, including the J.T.Baker^®, Macron Fine Chemicals™, Rankem™, BeneSphera™, and POCH™ brands.

Avantor products are used in a wide range of industries. Our biomedical and life science solutions are used in academic, industry and quality control laboratories for research, pharmaceutical production and medical lab testing, while our electronics solutions are used in the manufacturing of semiconductors and flat panel displays. For additional information please visit www.avantormaterials.com or follow www.twitter.com/avantor_news.

Trademarks are owned by Avantor Performance Materials, Inc., or its affiliates unless otherwise noted.  SAP® software is a registered trademark of SAP AG in Germany and in several other countries.

© 2012 Avantor Performance Materials, Inc.

SOURCE Avantor Performance Materials