DGAP-News: Wacker Chemie AG / Key word(s): Mergers & Acquisitions Wacker Chemie AG: WACKER Strengthens Its Pharmaceutical-Protein Business and Buys Dutch Biotechnology Plant 17.04.2018 / 08:30 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- - WACKER TAKES OVER SYNCO BIO PARTNERS OF AMSTERDAM - CAPACITY OF ACQUIRED FERMENTATION PLANT FOR PHARMACEUTICAL ACTIVES TOTALS SOME 2,000 LITERS - WACKER BIOTECH'S OVERALL CAPACITY DOUBLES AS A RESULT - SYNCO'S EXPERTISE IN MANUFACTURING LIVE MICROBIAL PRODUCTS AND IN FILLING FINISHED PHARMACEUTICALS EXPANDS WACKER'S PORTFOLIO - PLANT ACQUISITION IS A KEY STEP FOR WACKER, SUPPORTING ONGOING EXPANSION IN THE HIGH-GROWTH BIOPHARMACEUTICALS MARKET AND SECURING SUFFICIENT GMP PRODUCTION CAPACITIES FOR EXISTING AND NEW CUSTOMERS Munich and Amsterdam, April 17, 2018 - Wacker Chemie AG has acquired a Dutch site for manufacturing biopharmaceuticals, live microbial products and vaccines, plus the associated business, from SynCo Bio Luxembourg S.à.r.l.. The Munich-based chemical company announced the acquisition today. For WACKER, maintaining SynCo's existing customer relationships is a top priority. Moreover, WACKER is keeping on SynCo's employees. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price."This strategic acquisition is a key step for our ongoing expansion in the high-growth biopharmaceuticals market," explained Auguste Willems of WACKER's Executive Board. "The new plant will enable us to satisfy robust market demand today and in the coming years - and to strengthen our position as a leading contract manufacturer of microbial-derived biopharmaceutical proteins." Founded in 2000, SynCo Bio Partners has some 110 employees and operates two fermentation lines with current capacities of 1,500 and 270 liters. These lines manufacture microbial-derived biopharmaceuticals, not only for clinical testing, but also for the commercial market. There is a further line of single-use fermenters, which provides additional and flexible production capabilities. SynCo's service offering is rounded out with a "fill and finish" facility, which enables the complete manufacture of pharma-ceuticals from the active agent to the filled product. The facilities meet "Good Manufacturing Practice" (GMP) quality standards, and they have already been inspected by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and approved for the manufacture of specific pharmaceutical proteins. "Expanding our production capacity strengthens our market position sustainably," said Gerhard Schmid, president of WACKER BIOSOLUTIONS. "The additional fermentation lines double our current capacity, which increases our ability to produce key pharmaceuticals cost effectively, using advanced microbial techniques. We look forward to continuing the comprehensive support for SynCo's existing customers, while also offering them the proprietary technologies of Wacker Biotech. The acquisition will significantly expand our portfolio of technologies and services." SynCo's expertise in manufacturing live microbial biopharmaceuticals is a valuable complement to WACKER's know-how as a full-service supplier. Live microbial products represent a promising new class of actives, offering innovative therapies for serious illnesses and new vaccines against cholera, for example. About Wacker Biotech Wacker Biotech GmbH is a full-service contract manufacturer of bio-pharmaceutical proteins based on microbial systems. The company's services range from molecular biology, analytical services and process development through to the GMP-compliant manufacture of clinical test samples and pharmaceutical actives for the commercial market at its German-based Jena and Halle plants, which are GMP compliant, and FDA and EMA certified. Above all, Wacker Biotech offers proprietary technolo-gies that satisfy market needs for cost-efficient production and maximum quality. Wacker Biotech is a wholly-owned WACKER subsidiary. For further details, please visit the following website: http://www.wacker.com/biologics For further information, please contact: Wacker Chemie AG Media Relations & Information Christof Bachmair Tel. +49 89 6279-1830 [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17.04.2018 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Language: English Company: Wacker Chemie AG Hanns-Seidel-Platz 4 81737 München Germany Phone: 0049-89-6279-1633 Fax: 0049-89-6279-2933 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.wacker.com ISIN: DE000WCH8881 WKN: WCH888 Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange End of News DGAP News Service --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 675003 17.04.2018