Charles River Laboratories To Expand In China

Charles River Laboratories is set to acquire 75 percent ownership of Vital River, a commercial provider of research models and related services in China.

AsianScientist (Nov. 5, 2012) – Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. is set to acquire 75 percent ownership of Vital River, a commercial provider of research models and related services in China.

Through this acquisition, Charles River will provide high-quality research models and associated services to the emerging China market for drug discovery and development.

The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2013, subject to customary closing conditions, including Chinese regulatory approvals.

“We expect demand for research models in China to significantly increase over the next several years as drug development initiatives in academia, government and biopharmaceutical companies expand,” said James C. Foster, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Charles River Laboratories.

“Through our acquisition of Vital River, Charles River intends to set the standards for research models in China, the third-largest pharmaceutical market in the world, and play a leading role in this emerging opportunity.”

For the last ten years, Vital River has been a licensee for production and distribution of Charles River research models in China, with sites which reflect Charles River facility design.

Charles River expects to acquire the 75 percent ownership of Vital River for approximately US$27 million, subject to certain closing adjustments. The transaction is expected to add more than 1 percent to 2013 total net sales on a full-year basis and be slightly accretive to 2013 earnings per share.

When the acquisition is completed, Vital River will be majority owned and controlled by Charles River. The agreement provides an option for Charles River to acquire the remaining 25 percent of Vital River at a later date.

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Source: Charles River Laboratories.
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