Dupont BAX and Riboprinter systems
The acquisition includes the BAX and RiboPrinter systems and associated test kits.

CAMARILLO, CALIF., and WILMINGTON, DEL. — Hygiena, a Warburg Pincus portfolio company, will acquire DuPont’s global food safety diagnostics business, the two companies said Dec. 14.

Matthias Heinzel, DuPont
Matthias Heinzel, president of DuPont

“This transaction is a strategic business decision that will allow DuPont Nutrition & Health to focus on growth opportunities that are more closely aligned with our core portfolio of specialty food ingredients,” said Matthias Heinzel, president of DuPont Nutrition & Health. “We believe that the diagnostics business is an excellent strategic fit with Hygiena. Together they will be better able to offer greater opportunities for growth and investment in innovative solutions for the global pathogen testing industry.”

The acquisition includes the BAX and RiboPrinter systems and associated test kits; a global and technically trained research and development and manufacturing organization; and in-house production capacity. Wilmington-based DuPont in 1992 formed the food safety diagnostics business as Qualicon. Camarillo-based Hygiena, which specializes in food safety and environmental sanitation testing, will retain the Qualicon name.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017. Financial terms were not disclosed.