France's Roquette to buy drug capsule maker from Mitsubishi Chemical (updated)

Mitsubishi Chemical

28/07/2023 10:05

(Adds details, background throughout)
       PARIS, July 28 (Reuters) - French food ingredient maker
Roquette said on Friday it had signed an agreement to buy
Japanese drug capsule maker Qualicaps from Japan's Mitsubishi
Chemical  4188.T .
    Qualicaps is the third largest producer of hard capsules for
oral dosage solutions with clients including major
pharmaceutical and food companies, family-owned Roquette said in
a statement.
    "This strategic investment offers Roquette the ability to
expand the global footprint of its pharmaceutical business," the
agrifood company said.
    Roquette was not immediately available to provide financial
details of the agreement. 
    Mitsubishi Chemical announced in late 2012 that it would but
Qualicaps from U.S.-based Carlyle Group  CG.O  for 55.8 billion
yen ($660 million at the time).
    The closing of Qualicaps' acquisition is expected to occur
in the last quarter of this year and remains subject to some
customary and legal conditions, the company said. 
    Until then, Qualicaps remains 100% owned and managed by
Mitsubishi Chemical.

 (Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide; editing by Tassilo Hummel
and Jason Neely)
 ((Sybille.deLaHamaide@thomsonreuters.com; +336 8774 4148;))