Brazilian Biorigin acquired Norwegian Immunocorp Animal Health

Norwegian Immunocorp Animal Health AS, leading producer of aquaculture immune stimulants, is sold to the Brazilian company Biorigin.

The Brazilians turned to Norway for a profiled player to strengthen their team in the European market.

Immunocorp Animal Health AS of Norway has got new, Brazilian owners. The company keeps working out of Norway, name and crew unchanged.

”This is really good news for us,” says Managing Director Rolf Nordmo of Immunocorp Animal Health. “Biorigin will give a substantial contribution to the further growth and development of Immunocorp Animal Health. The new owner is a dedicated and exciting company that invests heavily in research and development with glucans for animal use as their core product.”

Profiled player

The Norwegian biotech company Immunocorp has taken a leading position in fish and animal immunity with its patented beta 1,3/1,6-glucan MacroGard®.

As a part of the present sale there will be established a collaboration agreement between the selling company Biotec Pharmacon and Immunocorp Animal Health that will ensure technology transfer from Biotec to Biorigin for the further refinement and development of the product.

In Brazil Biorigin produces immune stimulating glucans for the South-American market. The company has bought Immunocorp to acquire the leading Norwegian competence and establish a stronghold for growth in Europe.

”This is the first step in internationalization for Biorigin”, says General Manager Mario Steinmetz of Biorigin. “Our plan is to maintain Immunocorp Animal Health’s existing organization and employees in Norway, while using its structure and technical knowledge to continue to support expansion of the position of Biorigin in Europe”.

To buy Immunocorp Biorigin paid NOK 37.5 million. Plans call for the agreement between Biotec Pharmacon and Biorigin to be closed by the beginning of September.

Brazil turned to Norway to get a profiled player as Biorigin bought the Norwegian biotech company Immunocorp Animal Health and their brand MacroGard®. ”We continue without changes, keeping both name and crew, seeing that this change of owners will make us even stronger,” comments managing director Rolf Nordmo of Immunocorp.

Immunocorp Animal Health

Immunocorp Animal Health develops and markets immune stimulating products for aquaculture and agriculture. Its brand MacroGard® is an ecological alternative to feed antibiotics and chemotherapeutics for livestock, pets and cultured aquatic organisms. MacroGard® is based on a well-characterized and scientifically proven beta-1,3/1,6-glucan that has been in use world-wide for almost 15 years as an immune modulating agent in animal husbandry and aquaculture.

Immunocorp Animal Health has a crew of seven persons and a total sale of NOK 14.1 million during the first six months of 2008.

Biorigin

Founded in 2003 Brazilian Biorigin produces yeast cell derivates for the food industry and animal nutrition. From the start in 2003 Biorigin has seen a yearly growth of 30 p.c. Biorigin is part of the Zilor Group, a leading producer of sugar, ethanol and bio energy. Benefiting from three closely integrated production plants and extensive support from R&D and QC dedicated structures, the company breaths flexibility and security to cope with growing demand and specific products.