Croda International PLC Technology acquisitions (6415B)

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RNS Number : 6415B

Croda International PLC

11 January 2018

11 January 2018

Croda International plc ('Croda' or 'the Company')

Technology acquisitions

Croda International Plc, who make, create and sell innovative and sustainable speciality chemicals for some of the biggest, most successful brands in the world, has completed two technology acquisitions in exciting and novel application areas. This brings the number of technology acquisitions and co-investments completed in the last 12 months to four. Croda's technology acquisition programme supplements its development of new opportunities through organic investment and open innovation.

Nautilus Biosciences Canada Inc ('Nautilus'), is a technology-rich marine biotechnology company based in Charlottetown, Canada. Founded in 2007, Nautilus focuses on using marine microbial biodiversity to discover novel actives and materials. Through this acquisition and the associated patents, Croda will utilise this innovative science for applications across all its market sectors.

Croda and Nautilus already have a proven history of successful collaboration, having worked closely together for the past six years developing specific applications for skin care and hair care, as well as crop care. Croda intends to establish Nautilus as a Croda centre of innovation for Marine Biotechnology at Nautilus' existing base at the University of Prince Edward Island. This location is ideal for biotechnology research and has already attracted and facilitated partnerships with many other biotechnology-based companies. Nautilus has exclusive global access to the Marine Microbial Library which is based at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Croda has also completed the acquisition of IonPhasE Oy ('IonPhasE'), an innovative technology supplier of static electricity protection products, headquartered in Tampere, Finland.

Operating in some of the fastest growing segments within the plastics market, IonPhasE has developed a unique range of anti-static additives that help to prevent damage to electrical components, increase the safety of chemical and food packaging and improve the long-term appearance of consumer appliances. Focused on Electrostatic Discharge Protection (ESD) and Inherently Dissipative Polymers (IDPs), IonPhasE's products use the most advanced technologies in the static electricity protection market, which work to release static electricity in a controlled way.

These acquisitions follow the purchase of Enza Biotech AB in July 2017, a research enterprise in Sweden aiming to develop the next generation of renewable surfactants, together with an investment in Cutitronics Limited, a UK technology based innovator of personalised, adaptive skin care. These additional technology acquisitions support Croda's growth strategy within high technology, consumer driven markets, through exciting science-rich opportunities.

Steve Foots, Chief Executive of Croda, said: "These acquisitions are very much aligned to our strategy of investing in disruptive technologies, clever people and rich intellectual property. With Nautilus as part of the Croda group, we further expand our expertise in biotechnology; the Nautilus team that will join us have extensive knowledge and expertise in marine biotechnology, also known as "blue biotechnology". The experience and knowledge of the IonPhasE management team, coupled with our innovation strength, global sales reach and complementary technologies, will allow us to better meet the needs of our customers within our Smart Materials business within the Performance Technologies sector."

For enquiries contact:

Conleth Campbell, Head of Investor Relations: 01405 860551

   Teneo Blue Rubicon: Charlie Armitstead:          020 3603 5220 

About Croda - www.croda.com

Established in 1925, Croda is the name behind high performance ingredients and technologies in some of the world's biggest and most successful brands: creating, making and selling speciality chemicals that are relied on by industries and consumers everywhere.

They have a network of over 4,200 passionate and committed employees, working together as one global team across manufacturing sites and offices in 36 countries. Croda is a FTSE100 company with a flexible structure that allows them to focus on developing and delivering innovative, sustainable ingredients that their customers can build on in: Personal Care, Health Care, Crop Care, Polymer Additives, Lubricants, Coatings & Polymers, Geo Tech, Home Care and Industrial Specialities.

About Nautilus - www.nautilusbiosci.net

Nautilus Biosciences Canada is a marine biotechnology company located on the University of Prince Edward Island campus in Charlottetown, PEI. It aims to discover and develop bioactive agents from a marine microbial collection with applications focused on health and wellness.

About IonPhasE - www.ionphase.fi

Established in 2001, Finnish technology company IonPhasE is a leading manufacturer of static dissipative polymer additives, commonly known as permanent antistatic additives. These additives are used to control static electricity in plastics, which is utilised in wide range of global markets including electronics and semiconductor, chemical, food, automotive and consumer appliances.

About Enza Biotech - www.enzabiotech.com

Enza Biotech was founded in 2012 as a private spin-off company based on the results of a research programme coordinated by Lund University. A small, but highly innovative company, they combine insight into industrial challenges with a molecular understanding and knowledge of biotechnology based production methods.

The collaboration between biotechnology researchers and material scientists resulted in the design of a production process for a completely novel type of surfactant that meets the needs of many different markets.

About Cutitronics - www.cutitronics.com

Cutitronics is a multi-award winning technology company strategically white-labelling patented platforms and devices for global premium skin care brands in order to enhance consumer skincare routines through intelligent product application.

Cutitronics was spun-out of the University of Strathclyde in January 2014 by founder Dr David Heath and is located in Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, East Kilbride.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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January 11, 2018 08:00 ET (13:00 GMT)