MOSCOW (MRC) -- Evonik Industries acquires the company MedPalett AS, with headquarters in Sandnes (Norway), on March 3, 2016, said the company on its site.
MedPalett AS specializes in food ingredients containing anthocyanins. The acquisition helps Evonik expand the portfolio of its Health Care Business Line in the area of advanced food ingredients. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
Anthocyanins are known for their natural antioxidant properties. Numerous international studies suggest broad health-promoting properties including the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
"We are seeing an increase in demand for innovative food ingredients, especially those made from natural substances with scientifically proven benefits, and that’s something we want to be a part of," says Dr. Reiner Beste, chairman of the Board of Management of Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH.
MedPalett, which previously belonged to the Norwegian Biolink Group, developed a berry extract from wild Scandinavian bilberries and black currants from New Zealand that has a particularly high and stable anthocyanin content. The company manufactures the ingredient itself. The berry extract, which is marketed as a dietary supplement under the brand name Medox®, has been available in Scandinavia since the year 2000.
Evonik has distributed the berry extract since 2015 under the name Healthberry 865, with exclusive distribution rights in Canada, Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
"We have been a partner to the food ingredients industry for decades with our high-purity amino acids. Expanding our portfolio with nutritional solutions which promote health is a logical step in the development of our Health Care business," says Dr. Jean-Luc Herbeaux, head of the Health Care Business Line at Evonik. For MedPalett, the integration into the Evonik Group primarily means improved access to international markets and higher R&D resources.
As MRC informed earlier, Evonik launched an additional production area and erected a new building to house research, development, and scale-up operations for fixed bed catalysts at its Marl site, where it has been manufacturing catalysts for the past 75 years. The specialty-chemicals group has made a low double-digit million euro investment to expand its existing production capacities and erect a new building for operations revolving around the continued improvement of fixed-bed catalysts.
Evonik, the creative industrial group from Germany, is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. Its activities focus on the key megatrends health, nutrition, resource efficiency and globalization. Evonik benefits specifically from its innovative prowess and integrated technology platforms. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world.
MRC