Netherlands' based Univar NV is one of the world's largest chemical distribution firms with annual revenues of $4.7 billion (€3.9bn) in 2003 and operating income of $117 million last year.
Since 1 October, Univar's local subsidiary has been acting as the exclusive distributor for all of BDI's pharmaceutical lactose products in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland.
Zwolle, Netherlands-based Borculo Domo has signed a series of agreements in recent months aimed at boosting the international presence of its lactose excipients.
In June, it enlisted the aid of German distributor Interorgana for the distribution of Borculo Domo products in Europe's largest pharmaceutical market. And in August the Dutch company entered into a similar agreement with Univar's US operation, a market which - by its own admission - Borculo Domo has not targeted to any significant extent.
The two companies also collaborate in Canada, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Portugal.
Borculo Domo's pharmaceutical lactose products are used in a range of applications such as direct compression tabletting, wet granulation, filling of capsules and sachets and for dry powder inhalation.