US FMC to acquire pheromone company BioPhero ApS for $200m

HOUSTON (ICIS)–US agricultural sciences company FMC Corporation has announced a definitive agreement to acquire BioPhero ApS, a Denmark-based pheromone research and production company for $200m.

The purchase price will be paid at closing which is expected by the end of the third quarter following regulatory approvals and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

FMC said the acquisition adds biologically produced state-of-the-art pheromone insect control technology to their product portfolio and research and development pipeline and will help boost their role as a leader in delivering innovative and sustainable crop protection solutions.

The company added that BioPhero has pioneered a highly efficient yeast fermentation process for manufacturing pheromones at significantly lower costs and with fewer production steps compared to competitors’ traditional chemical synthesis methods.

Pheromones can be used in an integrated pest management programme to control the buildup of insect populations by disrupting the insect mating process and thereby reducing egg-laying and decreasing the next generation of insect population.

Pheromones do not have an impact on the environment and do not harm beneficial insects, such as pollinators.

“This acquisition demonstrates our continuing commitment to invest in biologicals and adjacent technologies, expanding our world-class portfolio while advancing sustainable agriculture,” said Mark Douglas, FMC president and CEO.

“FMC’s broad market access, leadership position in the high-value insecticide market, formulation know-how and application expertise provide significant opportunities to bring sustainably advantaged pheromone technology to more agricultural markets around the world.”