Vétoquinol announces the signing of a contract to acquire 100 percent of the shares of Ascor Chimici S.r.l, which will take effect on 1 December 2008.

This acquisition will enable Vétoquinol to significantly expand its position in the Italian market – the fifth largest in Europe – which it already serves through two distributors. Vétoquinol will now have a solid base from which to expand its market share in Italy.

Ascor Chimici, founded in 1969, had sales of 21.4 million euros in 2007 and employs 63 persons. The company, whose headquarters and manufacturing facility are located near Forli, manufactures and markets antibiotic medicines for cattle, swine, and poultry, as well as medicated premixes.

Ascor Chimici also distributes a line of anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic pharmaceutical products for production animals and pets under the ‘Vaas’ brand.

The acquisition of Ascor Chimici, nearly 30% of whose sales are exported, permits Vétoquinol to offer a more complete range of products in the European, Middle-East, African, and Asian markets.

“This acquisition of a major animal health company in Italy will permit us to develop our product lines in the Italian market, which represents an important sales potential for Vétoquinol, and to significantly strengthen our presence in Europe” stated Etienne Frechin, President of Vétoquinol.