Probio to acquire Gelkaps

After this transaction Probio will have four modern production facilities in three countries and will have pharmaceutical and nutraceutical capabilities in soft gel encapsulations, powders, liquid and tablet dosage forms.

In total Probio has, after including Gelkaps, more than 300 employees in Norway, Germany, Finland and Russia. The plants in Batsfjord, Andenes (both Norway), Seinajoki (Finland) and Falkenhagen (Germany) will, following the closing, cater customers as a single organization led by Ralf-Dieter Blesel, the current managing director of Gelkaps.

Mr Blesel, who has many years of senior managerial experience as managing director for companies like Azupharma, Anton Hubner and Bayer, will take over as the head of Probio’s core business area pharma and supplements. These plants will have combined annual volume of more than four billion daily dosages, with a plan to increase to eight billion daily dosages within 2012.

Per Benjaminsen, CEO of Probio, said: “This acquisition will create a Pan European player taking a high-road in the highly fragmented industry. Consumers are looking for documented, but also new and novel solutions to cope with ageing and health related issues. Probio and Gelkaps will together have the capability and innovative strength to meet the needs of these consumers.”