Hygiena intends to take over DuPont’s food safety diagnostics business

Environmental sanitation testing company Hygiena has agreed to acquire DuPont's global food safety diagnostics business.

Financial details of the transaction have not been divulged by either company.

Pending customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of next year.

According to the terms of the deal, Hygiena will take over DuPont Diagnostic’s business assets that include the BAX and RiboPrinter Systems and associated test kits, as well as a global and technically trained sales, R&D and manufacturing organisation and in-house production capacities.

DuPont established its global food safety diagnostics business in 1992 as Qualicon, which will be retailed by Hygiena upon completion of the transaction.

DuPont Diagnostic’s business offers science-based microbial detection and monitoring products that identify and characterises pathogens and other unwanted organisms in ingredients, finished products and production environments.

DuPont Nutrition & Health president Matthias Heinzel said: “This transaction is a strategic business decision that will allow DuPont Nutrition & Health to focus on growth opportunities that are more closely aligned with our core portfolio of specialty food ingredients.

 “We believe that the Diagnostics business is an excellent strategic fit with Hygiena. Together, they will be better able to offer greater opportunities for growth and investment in innovative solutions for the global pathogen testing industry.”

Hygiena intends to invest in the development of new DuPont Diagnostics products.

Hygiena chief executive officer Steve Nason said: “The combination of DuPont Diagnostics and Hygiena will create a broad food safety diagnostics company that can better serve our customers.

“The combined company's microbiology products will cover the full manufacturing process, from in-process environmental tests to finished product tests.

“In addition, the combination increases our customer service presence in the US and internationally, which will allow us to further enhance our research and development efforts and support to our combined customer base.”

Hygiena manufactures and sells a broad range of rapid hygiene monitoring systems, environmental collection systems and rapid dilution devices.