The acquisition is designed to enable Antec International to spearhead even greater innovations in the company's new product development pipeline. The Antec senior management team stresses that the deal means 'business as usual' for all staff and customers.

Ralph Auchincloss, out-going Chief Executive of Antec International, explains, "Our strong relationship with DuPont spans the past 15 years and is built upon our shared common goal - to protect the global environment from the threat of disease. We are delighted to have struck such a positive deal with DuPont and can reassure all our customers that their trading relationships with Antec will remain unchanged. On a day-to-day basis, Antec customers will not notice any change in the excellent levels of knowledge and support that all our staff always aim to provide."

The business will continue to trade under the well-recognised "Antec International" name. Antec's base and the two manufacturing facilities will remain in Sudbury, Suffolk with all of the staff being assured of their positions. Included in the future team are family members and senior executives, James and Francis Auchincloss.

Ralph Auchincloss concludes, "This major development in the farm and veterinary biosecurity industry will enable the amalgamated forces of Antec International and DuPont to build on Antec's expertise and success in relation to innovation and new product development. Antec and DuPont have a longstanding and successful working relationship and, as such, this acquisition represents an evolution rather than a revolution."

"This acquisition is a strategic fit for DuPont, building on our expertise in cleaning and disinfecting solutions that protect people, operations and the global food chain from the potential spread of virus and disease," said DuPont Chemical Solutions Enterprise Vice President and General Manager Nick C. Fanandakis. "We will continue to develop and strengthen the range of biosecurity solutions produced by Antec while providing DuPont scientific innovations that develop further this important class of cleaning and disinfecting agents as part of our growing Clean & Disinfect business."

Mark Blackwell MRCVS, Director, Marketing & International Sales, Antec International Animal Health Division, "During the 2001 UK Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Crisis, DuPont played a key role in assisting Antec International to increase the much-needed production of Virkon® S. At the height of the FMD crisis, this additional support from DuPont enabled Antec to increase production of Virkon® S to 24 hours per day - producing 54 million litres of the disinfectant in seven days and shipping it globally. Based on our past successful partnership we look forward to the future".

Source: Antec International - 8th October 2003