Neogen acquires Rochdale-based Quat-Chem

Quat-Chem Ltd

Neogen Corporation has acquired the Rochdale-based family-owned chemical manufacturer, Quat-Chem Ltd.

Quat-Chem specialises in the development, manufacture and sale of agricultural, industrial, and food processing biocidal hygiene products, including cleaners and disinfectants.

The 20-year-old private company, with a history of consistent growth, manufactures a full line of complete disinfectant and cleaner products for dairy hygiene and poultry and swine biosecurity applications.

The company sells its products on a global basis, with a focus on the United Kingdom, European Union, Middle East and Asia, including a particular focus on China.

Quat-Chem’s annual revenues are approximately $12 million (USD).

Dr Jason Lilly, Neogen’s vice president of corporate development, said: “Quat-Chem’s broad line of products, chemical manufacturing facilities, personnel and existing business made the company an attractive acquisition opportunity for us.

“This acquisition is another step, along with our May 2016 acquisition of Preserve International, towards Neogen becoming a global biosecurity product leader.”

Dr Rubinah Chowdhary, Quat-Chem’s scientific director, added: “Quat-Chem’s product development activities and its manufacturing capabilities in Europe provide a complementary fit to Neogen’s expanding biosecurity business.

“The importance of biosecurity is internationally recognised as critical to safe-guarding livestock health and food safety. The demand for safe, performance tested disinfection products offers considerable potential; with Neogen’s expertise in biosecurity and its global reach, we feel Quat-Chem and its products are in good hands.”

Quat-Chem is headquartered in an accredited, recently expanded facility in Rochdale, and its operations will be managed by Neogen’s Scotland-based Neogen Europe subsidiary.

Quat-Chem has a strong history in nitrogen-based chemistry, as an internationally recognised supplier of the widely used biocidal active benzalkonium chloride, as well as amine oxide, a key surfactant.

Dr Stephen Holmes, managing director of Neogen Europe, said: “Adding Quat-Chem’s biosecurity products and capabilities will complement what we can offer to our customers.

“Our new operation in Rochdale will work in close cooperation with our nearby Lab M location.”

Neogen’s acquisition of Quat-Chem is the latest in its strategy of expanding the company’s biosecurity business, which began in 2003 with its acquisition of rodenticides, cleaners and disinfectants from ConAgra. The expansion continued with Neogen’s 2008 acquisition of DuPont’s biosecurity product line, the 2014 acquisition of Chem-Tech, and 2016acquisitions of Preserve International and Virbac’s rodenticides.

Terms of the current agreement were not disclosed.

Neogen Corporation develops and markets products dedicated to food and animal safety.

The company’s Food Safety Division markets dehydrated culture media, and diagnostic test kits to detect foodborne bacteria, natural toxins, food allergens, drug residues, plant diseases and sanitation concerns.

Neogen’s Animal Safety Division is a leader in the development of animal genomics along with the manufacturing and distribution of a variety of animal healthcare products, including diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, veterinary instruments, wound care and disinfectants.