DSM has entered an agreement to acquire Ocean Nutrition Canada from Clearwater Fine Foods and funds managed by Richardson Capital in an all-cash transaction for approximately $531 million.
 
Based in Haliax, N.S., Ocean Nutrition Canada is a manufacturer of fish-oil derived omega-3 fatty acids for dietary supplements, and has forecast 2012 net sales at about C$190 million. DSM said it expects the acquisition to be complementary to its acquisition of Martek in 2011.
 
“After our successful acquisition of Martek in 2011, the acquisition of Ocean Nutrition Canada is the logical next step in developing our Nutritional Lipids into a major growth platform for our Nutrition cluster,” said Feike Sijbesma, chairman and chief executive officer of DSM. “Our science-based knowledge and expertise in nutritional ingredients will help to further grow Ocean Nutrition Canada’s business as part of DSM. This acquisition fully fits DSM’s strategy as we continue to create value for all stakeholders by providing innovative, sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.”
 
DSM said the acquisition will allow the company to strengthen and complement its newly established global nutritional lipids growth platform. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2012 and marks DSM’s fifth acquisition in the nutrition cluster since September 2010.
 
“We look forward to welcoming the very capable team of Ocean Nutrition Canada employees to DSM and to developing this exciting opportunity together,” said Stephan Tanda, member of the DSM managing board. “PUFAs have developed into a major nutrition ingredient category, based on solid science and well recognized health benefits, driving consistently high-market growth rates. By combining Ocean Nutrition Canada’s strength in fish oil derived omega-3s with our unique global infrastructure and broad access to dietary supplement and food and beverage markets, we will be able to provide our customers around the world with market leading value and a steadily widening range of applications.”