Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services has announced its intention to purchase the remaining 50% ownership interest in its Visakhapatnam, India joint venture, Granules OmniChem (GOC). The purchase will transfer ownership from its joint venture partner, Granules India.
Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services is a California-based CDMO with sites in Belgium, the US, Japan, and India. However the parent group is headquartered in Japan.
The GOC joint venture was formed in 2011 by S.A. Ajinomoto OmniChem (now doing business as Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services) and Granules India Limited, providing small molecule intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) manufacturing to the pharmaceutical industry.
David Enloe, CEO of Ajinomoto said: “This investment is an important follow-up to Aji Bio-Pharma’s October 2018 small and large molecule business integration and bolsters our commitment to simplifying our clients’ supply chains, while providing a wide range of CDMO offerings.”
“GOC has been a well-run producer of high-quality API since its formation, which was designed, constructed and is managed based on our Belgian sites’ GMP operating standards and quality systems. This allows us to provide a seamless experience for our clients as they continue to deepen their partnerships with us on key programmes in their product pipelines,” Enloe added.
Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Conclusion of this transaction is subject to fulfilment of certain closing conditions and customary government approvals. Closing is expected to be completed during Q4 2019.
