Novozymes has acquired Biota’s microbiome R&D team and data science platform for an undisclosed sum. The move builds on two previous deals in the microbiome field this past year, notably of US-based Microbiome Labs and Ireland’s PrecisionBiotics.
Amgen is to buy Five Prime Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech focused on developing immuno-oncology and targeted cancer therapies, for about $1.9 billion. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter, when a wholly owned subsidiary of Amgen will merge with Five Prime.
US plastics additives and colorants manufacturer Milliken has acquired Zebra-chem, a globally-focused chemical producer based at Bad Bentheim, Germany. The German company specializes in chemical blowing agents as well as peroxide masterbatches that enable plastics producers to incorporate up to 100% recycled content into new plastics.
Dutch distributor Barentz has acquired a majority stake in the Noack Group, extending its activities in the Central/East European region and gaining a complementary portfolio of animal nutrition ingredients.
PQ Group has agreed to sell its Performance Chemicals business for $1.1 billion to a partnership established by Cerberus Capital Management and Koch Minerals & Trading. The divestment is part of PQ’s strategy, called Simpler + Stronger, which the group said is aimed at driving greater value for its shareholders.
Irish CDMO ICON is to acquire US-based rival PRA Health Sciences in a cash-and-stock deal worth approximately $12 billion. Both boards of directors have unanimously approved the merger.
Danish coatings manufacturer Hempel has agreed to buy Wattyl, an Australian and New Zealand producer of architectural and protective paints and coatings, from owner Sherwin-Williams. Financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to close by the end of March, were not disclosed.
The Belgian cities of Antwerp and Bruges have agreed to merge their respective ports, with the former taking an 80.2% share in the combined port and Bruges taking 19.8%. The merger remains subject to a number of conditions, including approval from Belgian competition authorities.
Germany’s Lanxess has signed a binding agreement to acquire 100% of Emerald Kalama Chemical from affiliates of private equity firm American Securities. The US specialty chemicals producer focused mainly on consumer markets last reported sales of $425 million and EBITDA pre-exceptionals of $90 million. Closing is expected in the second half of 2021, subject to regulatory approval.
China contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) WuXi STA has agreed to buy Bristol Myers Squibb’s manufacturing facility in Couvet, Switzerland, for an undisclosed sum. The site will be WuXi STA’s first facility in Europe. The transaction is expected to complete during the second quarter, subject to the usual conditions and regulatory approvals.
Ireland-based multinational drug company Jazz Pharmaceuticals is to buy UK biopharma GW Pharma for $7.2 billion, creating a leader in neuroscience. The boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved the deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter, subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.
AkzoNobel has conceded defeat in its bid to buy Tikkurila, leaving the way clear for US rival PPG Industries to continue with its acquisition of the Finnish paints and coatings company.
German chemical producer Wacker Chemie is acquiring 100% of San Diego, California- headquartered CDMO Genopis from its two South Korean owners, Helixmith and Medivate Partner, both based in Seoul.
Indian aroma chemicals producer Eternis has acquired the UK’s Tennants Fine Chemicals and its wholly owned subsidiaries in Singapore and Shanghai, China, for an undisclosed sum. The deal is Eternis’ first acquisition outside of India.
DuPont has agreed to sell its Clean Technologies business for $510 million to an international private equity consortium, comprising BroadPeak Global, Asia Green Fund and The Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company (Dussur).
Brenntag has strengthened its water treatment business in the UK with the acquisition of ICL Packed, its second purchase this year so far. Financial terms of the deal, which was signed and closed on the same day, were not disclosed.
In a move to strengthen its market position in Austria and expertise in specialties, Oqema has acquired a majority share in Austria-based CB Chemie.
Italy’s Angelini Pharma has entered into an agreement to acquire Swiss biopharma Arvelle Therapeutics in an all-cash transaction worth up to $960 million. The first $610 million will be paid following regulatory clearance of the deal, with a further $350 million paid if Arvelle’s epilepsy treatment cenobamate achieves certain revenue targets.
Logistics service provider H.Essers, currently active in 19 countries from 77 locations, is in advanced negotiations for the acquisition of the logistics and transport activities of the Dutch Meeus Group.
Huntsman has agreed to sell its India-based Do-it-Yourself (DIY) consumer adhesives business, part of its Advanced Materials division, to Mumbai-based Pidilite Industries.
Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has agreed to buy US drug delivery company Emisphere Technologies for $1.8 billion.
Israeli crop protection producer Adama has entered into an agreement that will see it take a majority stake in most of Huifeng Bio Agriculture’s synthesis and formulation facilities.
US-based CDMO Catalent has agreed to acquire Bone Therapeutics’ cell therapy manufacturing subsidiary, Skeletal Cell Therapy Support (SCTS), in Gosselies, Belgium, for $14 million.
French pharma Sanofi is boosting once again its immunology portfolio with an agreement to buy Dutch biotech Kiadis for €308 million.
In its biggest pharma acquisition since the 2006 takeover of Berlin-based women’s specialist Schering, Bayer plans to plunk down up to $4 billion for US biotech firm Asklepios BioPharmaceutical (AskBio). Under the agreed terms, Bayer will pay $2 billion upfront and up to $2 billion more, contingent on certain success milestones.
Leading global distributor of life science ingredients Barentz has expanded its activities in the Asian life science markets with the acquisition of Singapore-headquartered Nardev, a distributor specialized in the personal care market. Financial details were not disclosed.
US specialty chemicals company PQ Group has agreed to sell its Performance Materials business to middle-market private equity firm The Jordan Company (TJC) for $650 million. The sale is expected to close by the end of 2020, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions.
Barentz, a Dutch distributor of life science ingredients, has agreed to acquire Maroon Group in the US for an undisclosed sum. The deal, which significantly extends Barentz’s footprint in North America, is expected to close by the end of this year.
Spanish contract laboratory company Kymos has boosted its European presence with the takeover of Germany’s Prolytic. Financial details were not disclosed.
Resurrecting plans from nine years ago, National Petrochemical (Petrochem) and Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG) have initiated discussions about the economic feasibility of a merger.
Gilead Sciences is to acquire Immunomedics for approximately $21 billion. The deal, unanimously approved by both companies' boards of directors, will be funded by $15 billion in cash and $6 billion in new debt, and is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2020.
DCAT Value Chain Insights rounds up recent expansion activity for highly potent drug substances and drug products.
In a move designed to boost its catalyst business, Evonik will pay $210 million to acquire the Porocel Group, a US technology provider based in Houston, Texas. The transaction, to be financed out of Evonik's “strong cash position,” is due to close by the end of 2020 subject to regulatory approval.
Leading chemicals distributor Brenntag has agreed to buy Oils ‘R US, a Thai distributor of lubricants for automotive, commercial vehicle, industrial and marine applications. The transaction is expected to complete in the second half of 2020.
Tokyo, Japan-based Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC), through its US subsidiary acquires US chemicals and materials group Gelest from New Mountain Capital.
