CSL blood products group completes acquisition

The blood products group has just announced it has completed the $292 million acquisition of 47 antibody collection centres and testing laboratories from Nabi.

The sum was paid to Nabi on 6 September 2001, by US subsidiary, ZLB Bioplasma, which became responsible for the operation of the business. The new business will trade under the name of ZLB Plasma Services. CSL's Managing Director, Dr Brian McNamee, said, "This acquisition will ensure a long-term reliable supply of US source plasma which will, in time, drive increased volumes and earnings for ZLB. We will now have the confidence to undertake an expansion of the ZLB fractionation plant, progressively increasing to 3,000,000 litres per annum by 2005. This expansion will also be supported by our ongoing relationships with the leading not-for-profit blood collectors such as the American National Red Cross".