Gelita AG sells its shares in R.P. Scherer

Eberbach, Germany – Gelita AG has sold its shares in R.P. Scherer to its majority shareholder Catalent Pharma Solutions Inc.

Gelita, which produces collagen proteins for various markets, held a minority stake – 49 per cent – in the company.

R.P. Scherer is a fully integrated service provider for the health care industry and offers a range of encapsulation products and services.

Catalent Pharma, which is based in Somerset, N.J., offers drug and biologic development services, delivery technologies and supply solutions. Catalent has more than 9,000 employees at more than 20 sites, and has been a major player in the pharmaceutical industry.

Gelita AG says for more than 10 years it has treated its shareholding in R.P. Scherer as a purely financial investment and not as part of its core business.

The joint venture between Gelita and R.P. Scherer, which was one of the first German-American joint ventures following the Second World War, now comes to an end after more than 60 years. Gelita will continue to provide the R.P. Scherer plant, located on the premises of Gelita AG, with gelatin, energy, steam, fresh water, etc.

Gelita AG’s collagen proteins include gelatins for the manufacture of foodstuff, as well as collagen peptides in products for preventing and reducing joint problems and achieving weight loss.