FMC Corporation to Acquire CoLiving Food Ingredients

The acquisition will enhance FMC’s leadership position in supplying specialty hydrocolloid products and services to the rapidly growing food ingredient market in China.

29/07/08 FMC Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire CoLiving Food Ingredients based in Guangzhou, China. The acquisition will enhance FMC’s leadership position in supplying specialty hydrocolloid products and services to the rapidly growing food ingredient market in China. The companies expect the transaction to close within four to six weeks following approval from Chinese regulatory authorities
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CoLiving will be integrated into FMC Specialty Chemical Group’s BioPolymer Division, which recently opened a new technology and commercial center in Shanghai, China. As a result of the acquisition, FMC will add specialty blending capabilities and an application laboratory in Guangzhou, China.

“We are excited to broaden our customer reach and strengthen our ability to offer innovative solutions to the Chinese dairy market through the CoLiving acquisition,” said Mike Smith, general manager, FMC BioPolymer. “This acquisition is an excellent complement to further accelerate the strong growth BioPolymer has realized supplying specialty stabilizers to Chinese dairy companies as well as improve service and supply chain efficiencies to the Chinese food ingredient market.”

Back in May FMC said it was acquiring the hydrocolloids ingredients business of International Specialty Products (ISP) in a move to extend FMC's leadership in hydrocolloids and enhance service to global customers in food, pharmaceutical and specialty industries. ISP's hydrocolloid ingredients business had revenues of approximately $80 million in 2007.