DowDuPont completes FMC Health & Nutrition buy, boosts excipient position

02 Nov 2017 --- DowDuPont has announced the completion of DuPont's acquisition of FMC Corporation’s Health & Nutrition business (FMC H&N), except for the omega 3 business and its divestment to FMC of a portion of DuPont’s Crop Protection business. The transaction includes consideration to DuPont of USUS$1.6 billion to reflect the difference in the value of the assets, including cash of USUS$1.2 billion and working capital of US$425 million. The divestiture satisfies DuPont’s commitments in connection with the regulatory clearance of the merger with Dow, which was completed on August 31, 2017.

Speaking to FoodIngredientsFirst, Matthias Heinzel, DuPont Nutrition & Health Business President says: “We are excited about completing this transaction which strengthens DuPont Nutrition & Health’s position as one of the world’s leading specialty food ingredients companies and providers of sustainable, bio-based food ingredients and expanding into pharma applications that address the evolving demands of that industry. The acquisition of FMC’s complementary portfolio and expertise enhances our growth potential with a broader offering of products and solutions, an expanded footprint and a strong R&D pipeline. Specifically, we are gaining broader and new access to key ingredients including alginates, carrageenan and microcrystalline cellulose. Moreover, we are expanding our business into the fast-growing pharma excipients space, gaining access to different and complementary routes to market.”

“As part of DuPont Nutrition & Health, FMC Health & Nutrition will be positioned within a larger, highly complementary business focused on the same area of expertise that is committed to its success. The FMC Health & Nutrition business and its people will benefit from DuPont’s scale, our commitment to investing in R&D, and the opportunity to join a team of like-minded professionals focused on using technology to make foods better, medicines more effective, and improve wellness options around the world,” explains Heinzel. 

“In September 2017, DuPont completed its merger of equals with Dow Chemicals. As a result, we are now preparing to spin into a new Specialty Products Division which will be characterized by delivering high-value differentiated products through leading brands, unrivaled customer access and deep industry experience. The acquisition of FMC Health & Nutrition’ highly complementary business fits well into this business objective. It strengthens our DuPont Nutrition & Health market position and enhances our future growth potential by giving us access to leading brands, impressive technology and a high level of expertise. As such it is a strong fit at a time where we are accelerating our business for growth as part of the Specialty Products Division,” he notes. 

“FMC Health & Nutrition has a strong position in the excipient market and is recognized for its brands and high-quality excipients. This is a high-growth market driven by the need for more complex drugs and improved functionality of the drugs. As such it presents an exciting growth opportunity for DuPont Nutition & Health where we can use our technical and R&D expertise to further develop FMC Health & Nutrition’s leading market position,” he notes.  

Strengthening DuPont Nutrition & Health’s position
The acquisition of FMC H&N, which is being integrated into DuPont Nutrition & Health (DuPont N&H), builds on DuPont N&H’s position as one of the world’s leading providers of sustainable, bio-based food ingredients and expands its capabilities into the fast-growing pharma excipients space. FMC’s complementary portfolio and expertise will enhance DuPont N&H’s growth potential with a broader offering of products and solutions, an expanded footprint, a strong R&D pipeline, and access to different and complementary routes to market. 

DuPont N&H is focused on customer-driven innovation. With highly differentiated products and solutions, in-depth knowledge of food and nutrition, advanced research and expert science, the business is uniquely positioned to deliver unmatched value to the food, beverage, dietary supplement and pharmaceutical industries. The business is part of the DowDuPont Specialty Products Division.

Establishing a global agriculture leader
DuPont completed the divestiture of its Cereal Broadleaf Herbicides and Chewing Insecticides portfolio to FMC. In addition, DuPont divested its Crop Protection R&D pipeline and organization, excluding seed treatment, nematicides and late-stage R&D programs, which it will continue to develop and bring to market, and excluding personnel needed to support marketed products and R&D programs that are now part of the DowDuPont Agriculture Division.

With the completion of this divestiture, the Agriculture Division is a global agriculture leader with a balanced portfolio and robust pipeline of innovative solutions across seed germplasm, biotech traits, crop protection, seed-applied technologies and digital agriculture. The Division’s enhanced capabilities will offer farmers superior solutions, greater choice and competitive price for value, helping them increase productivity and profitability. 

Price increase for locust bean gum
Last month, DuPont Nutrition & Health announced a global price increase for its GRINDSTED brand locust bean gum (LBG) which is effective as of Nov. 1, 2017.

LBG is a seed extract from carob, carob kernels are harvested in the Mediterranean area during the end of summer. The company reports that volume harvested this year is limited and availability of this necessary raw material has resulted in significant increases in the overall cost for DuPont to produce LBG. As a result, DuPont will implement a price increase for LBG, up to 30 percent. In addition, DuPont is limiting the term of LBG price validity to maintain flexibility in response to market conditions.

“DuPont is increasing its LBG price to respond to dynamic market conditions. This price increase will enable DuPont to continue servicing our customers with high-quality LBG. It also will enable a continued focus on quality, safety and productivity to offer the most competitive solutions to the global food industry,” says Jean-Baptiste Dufeu, DuPont Nutrition & Health, LBG business manager.

By Elizabeth Green

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