BASEL, Switzerland—Lonza Group
Ltd. has purchased the DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) business from Dallas-based
Celanese Corp., a global ingredient and specialty chemical supplier. The
acquisition includes certain proprietary knowledge, expertise, patents and
registration in major global markets, including North America, Europe and Asia.
Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.
Nutrinova, Celanese’s performance products division, had
been exploring the DHA sale since July 2005, when it announced a desire to focus
on its core sweetener and food protection business. Its two-yearold,
microalgae-derived DHA has been only a small market product, as high materials
prices and safety approval costs have left most of the omega-3 market to marine
oils. However, according to Celanese, vegetarian DHA oil offers better sensory
properties, and the growth rates of vegetarian DHA are expected to even outpace
other omega-3 sources, including marine fish oils.
Nutrinova DHA will join Lonza’s existing products niacin
(vitamin B3) and L-carnitine (branded as L-Carnipure), and is expected to
broaden the company’s worldwide distribution channels. The company said the
DHA business is synergistic with its niacin and carnitine brands; all three
ingredients benefit some of the same health conditions, such as cardiovascular
health. In a released statement, Lonza stated Nutrinova’s superior DHA
technology, talented workforce and experience in relevant markets make it an
excellent complement.
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