Natural solutions that advance human health are in high demand and the expected growth for microbial solutions in this industry is 7-9%. Chr. Hansen is a leading supplier of probiotics to dietary supplements, infant formula and dairy, and through the acquisition of the LGG business, the company is looking to strengthen its microbial platform across all three categories.

Alongside Chr. Hansen’s own BB-12 strain, the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (protected under the trademark LGG) has been used in food and dietary supplements since 1990 and has a proven beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal and immune system. It has been studied in more than 200 clinical studies and described in more than 800 scientific publications.

Cees de Jong, CEO of Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, said: “One of the ambitions in our Nature’s No. 1 strategy is to expand our current business within microbial solutions for human health. The LGG strain and our own probiotic strain BB-12 are the best documented probiotic strains in the world and the acquisition allows us to capture the full potential of the LGG brand across markets for dietary supplements and infant formula offerings, as well as pursuing new opportunities in dairy.”

Lasse Nagell, senior vice president, Human Health, Chr. Hansen, said: “The markets for well documented probiotic strains are experiencing very strong growth in dietary supplements and drives an entire category in fermented milk products, such as yogurt, kefir, etc. We believe that there are vast opportunities for the LGG brand considering Chr. Hansen’s wide geographic reach and deep technical knowledge.”

Chr. Hansen has been the largest producer of LGG products for human dietary and infant formula for more than 10 years. Apart from acquiring the full rights to the strain, Chr. Hansen also takes over a number of specialty strains already in production and a bacterial strain collection of around 3,200 strains.

Annikka Hurme, CEO of Valio OY, said: “An important element in the deal is closer co-operation between the two companies’ world leading innovations teams, which will further strengthen the impressive science backing LGG.”

The price of the acquisition is EUR 73 million and will be funded through Chr. Hansen’s own cash position and existing credit facilities.

The acquisition of the LGG business is subject to customary closing conditions. Closing is expected during the fall of 2016.