Clariant to acquire Chinese healthcare packaging specialist VitaPac

Muttenz, September 29, 2014 - Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals, today announced that it has signed a purchase agreement with VitaPac, a Chinese specialist for healthcare packaging. The owner-led company with 80 employees is based in Hong Kong with a production site in Dongguan, China. It had consolidated sales of about CHF 4. mio in 2013. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the fourth quarter of 2014 and subject to regulatory approvals.

VitaPac, founded in 1995, develops and manufactures a full range of high quality protective packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical, neutraceutical and food industries, as well as for the logistics and electronics sectors, mainly in the region of Asia-Pacific (APAC). The company focuses on active sorbents and has built up a leading market position for desiccant packets for moisture adsorption.

VitaPac is known for its innovative, technology-driven product lines that address pharmaceutical stability and shelf life. The company maintains a Drug Master File (DMF) with the FDA, and its products comply with all pertinent regulations for use in direct contact with food and drugs.

The bolt-on acquisition of VitaPac complements the portfolio of Clariant’s Business Line Medical Specialties within its Business Unit Masterbatches. The agreement will help Clariant to gain increased market share in important emerging markets especially in Asia but also to capture further sales in other regions. The acquired Dongguan plant will enlarge Clariant’s global footprint, furthering the reach to its multinational pharmaceutical customer base.

Hariolf Kottmann, CEO of Clariant, comments: “The acquisition of VitaPac is in line with our strategy to grow profitably by investing in new technologies and new markets. It will enable us to enhance Clariant’s existing portfolio of packaging solutions with new innovative products from the active packaging area, helping us to further develop our positioning in the medical specialties market.”