Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (SIAL) announced it has acquired all outstanding shares of Vetec Quimica Fina Ltda to strengthen the Company's position in Latin America.  Based in Brazil, Vetec is a leading supplier of high quality specialty chemicals for the academic and industrial markets and provides products that support research, development and manufacturing.  

Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.  The Company expects the acquisition to be neutral to diluted earnings per share in 2011.

Vetec brings to Sigma-Aldrich® more than 3,000 products and more than 30 years of expertise in the technical qualification, purification and packaging of high quality chemicals for laboratory and manufacturing applications. Vetec has built its reputation on superior service and quality and has been ISO certified since 2003.  Vetec employs more than 200 employees at its Xerem location, near Rio de Janiero.

Commenting on the acquisition, Eric Green, Vice President and Managing Director, International at Sigma-Aldrich said the acquisition of Vetec Quimica is part of Sigma-Aldrich's strategy to continue building a presence in the emerging markets and to leverage the economies afforded by producing and packaging products where its customers reside.

In addition to localizing its supply chain, the combination of Vetec and Sigma-Aldrich allows the company to broaden its distribution channel in Brazil and to enhance its ability to tailor its products to match the special requirements of the market, said Green.

Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company committed to Enabling Science to Improve the Quality of Life. Its chemical and biochemical products and kits are used in scientific research, including genomic and proteomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development and as key components in pharmaceutical, diagnostic and other high technology manufacturing.

The Company has customers in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals, and in industry. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products. Sigma-Aldrich operates in 40 countries and has 8,000 employees providing excellent service worldwide.

Sigma-Aldrich is committed to Accelerating Customers' Success through Innovation and Leadership in Life Science, High Technology and Service. Sigma-Aldrich Corporation is building on its commitment to advance technology through materials science via Aldrich® Materials Science; one of the firm’s strategic growth initiatives.

Just recently, Sigma-Aldrich announced the establishment of a permanent endowment through the Materials Research Society (MRS) to support the new Mid-Career Researcher Award.

27th May 2011