Clariant to acquire 17 % share in BioSpectrum

Chemicals company Clariant has signed an agreement to acquire a 17% share in South Korea-based BioSpectrum, which develops and supplies specialty active cosmetics’ ingredients from Asia’s diverse flora for use on the human body.

Following the completion of the deal, the family-owned BioSpectrum will remain an independently managed company.

Clariant will use its global sales network to market BioSpectrum’s product portfolio of active ingredients worldwide.

Clariant CEO Hariolf Kottmann said: "The transaction will allow us to expand in the strategically important and growing global markets for Personal Care applications.

"Our investment in BioSpectrum will give us further access to highly innovative active ingredients based on renewable raw materials.

"This corresponds to a growing consumer demand for natural cosmetic ingredients, not only in the emerging markets of Asia but worldwide."

With the deal, Clariant also expects to strengthen its previous investment in the partnership with Beraca in Latin America and use the company’s global customer platform through exclusive distributorship.

Involved in researching and developing natural raw materials that can be used in skin and hair care products, BioSpectrum has scientific capabilities in bioassay, testing and substantiation, allowing the design and development of high-quality actives ingredients for the cosmetics industry.

Tested and developed to meet the demands and trends of the cosmetics industry, BioSpectrum’s portfolio of functional ingredients is said to obtain from natural products and extracts from exotic Asian plants, particularly from the South Korean Jeju Island, an isolated mountain formed by volcanic eruption and features more than 1,800 plant species.

The company’s formulation ingredients cover active compounds offering moisturising, whitening, anti-ageing, wound healing, anti-acne, skin soothing, anti-inflammation, anti-dandruff, detoxification and body slimming effects.

BioSpectrum CEO Deok-Hoon Park said: "This partnership with Clariant will be a key step in BioSpectrum’s growth.

"We will have a strong partner on-board supporting our fast and ambitious expansion plans and we foresee tremendous innovation synergies that will lead us to create more value for customers around the world."

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Image: Clariant will use its global sales network to market BioSpectrum’s product portfolio of active ingredients across the globe. Photo: courtesy of Clariant.