The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of the remaining 30 per cent equity stake in Signet Excipients Private Limited (Signet) by IMCD India Private Limited (IMCD India).
The proposed combination relates to the acquisition of the remaining 30 per cent equity stake in Signet (target) by IMCD India (acquirer) by exercising a call option.
The acquirer is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of IMCD N.V. and is located in Mumbai. IMCD N.V. is a Dutch entity and has a presence across various jurisdictions.
The acquirer is engaged in the sales, marketing, and distribution of specialty chemicals including food and pharma ingredients in the Indian market through the following product segments: (i) Pharmaceutical Excipients; (ii) Food and Nutrition Ingredients and Excipients; (iii) Coatings and Construction chemicals; (iv) Advanced Materials (Plastic Additives and Composites); (v) Lubricants and Fuels chemicals and additives; (vi) Textile chemicals and additives; and (vii) Beauty and Personal Care ingredients.
Signet is jointly controlled by IMCD and its promoters. Currently, the acquirer and the promoters hold 70 per cent and 30 per cent of the equity share capital of Signet, respectively.
Target does not have any presence outside of India, except for minimal sales by way of exports in the Indian subcontinent and Africa. Target is engaged in the business of sales, marketing, distributing, importing, or exporting of excipients used for pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, biotech, food, API products, and any other related products for pharmaceutical formulation.