Valent BioSciences Corp. 是全球农业、公共卫生和林业生物理性产品开发的领导者，它表示同意收购 Pace International LLC，后者是商业农业收获后领域的全球领导者，在美国、墨西哥和南美洲。此前，Valent拥有该公司25%。
The acquisition adds another strategic platform to Valent’s rapidly expanding global biorational business. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Pace specializes in the development and commercialization of coatings, sanitizers, and postharvest disease management products for use in many crops including citrus, stone fruit, pome fruit, potatoes and others. Postharvest products improve fruit quality and maintain nutritional value while allowing for longer storage. Postharvest losses can range up to 40% to 50% of all produce that is grown, depending on the crop and country, Valent said.
“The Pace assets bring Valent the unique opportunity to leverage our extensive product portfolio and pipeline further downstream into new and exciting areas that will redefine the postharvest business segment,” said President and CEO Michael Donaldson. “Along with our $150 million investment in a new biorational product manufacturing facility in Osage, Iowa, VBC’s acquisition of Pace will help us to meet the growing demand for high-quality produce and further expands our global footprint as the undisputed leader in this sector.”
生物理性产品是通常源自生物来源的产品，其活性高度特异性，同时提供经济、健康和/或环境效益。
Donaldson, also an executive officer with Valent parent Sumitomo Chemical Co., said the acquisition supports Sumitomo’s strategic vision to diversify its participation in the food production value chain. “With this acquisition, SCC becomes the only multinational supplier with both conventional and biorational product solutions extending from pre-planting seed protection and physiological seed enhancement to preharvest crop production/protection and postharvest applications benefiting the entire value chain,” Donaldson said.
Pace 在全球拥有 100 多名员工。过去八年担任销售和营销副总裁的 Roberto Carpentier 将成为 Pace 的新任执行副总裁兼首席运营官，直接向唐纳森汇报。此次收购预计将在今年年底前完成。