Nutreco announced Jan. 18 that it has completed the acquisition of Micronutrients initially announced Dec. 7, 2015, following regulatory clearance. Micronutrients is a global leader in hydroxy-based trace minerals. The acquisition enables Trouw Nutrition, Nutreco's animal nutrition business, to further strengthen its Selko feed additives product portfolio. Bruce Crutcher will take over the general management of Micronutrients.

Nutreco said its strategy is to address global trends in the animal protein value chain by providing its customers with innovative and sustainable nutritional solutions that require advanced technical and application know-how. Micronutrients’ product portfolio fits this strategy. In combination with its existing product range and research and development capabilities, the acquisition makes Trouw Nutrition a global leader in the specific feed additive segment of hydroxy trace minerals. Furthermore, Micronutrients’ products will strengthen Trouw Nutrition’s global premix business.

Bruce Crutcher, who currently leads Trouw Nutrition USA, will take over the general management of Micronutrients in the second quarter of 2016. The new general manager for Trouw Nutrition USA will be announced shortly. Current Micronutrients CEO Pat James will step down and retire but will stay on as internal adviser to support Micronutrients' further growth.

Micronutrients is a market leader for hydroxy trace minerals, which are marketed under the global brand name IntelliBond. Hydroxy trace minerals are specialty trace minerals that, due to their unique chemical structure, improve the stability of premix and feed and the bioavailability (better digestion) in animals compared to inorganic trace minerals. Higher bioavailability under specific conditions leads to increased animal performance as well as environmental benefits, the announcement said. The company said it is especially strong through its own commercial organization in the U.S. while also selling in many other countries around the world through distributors.

Selko is Nutreco’s feed additives business, which sells its products through Trouw Nutrition’s global sales organization. Selko is a market leader in natural feed additive solutions that add value to integrators, feed mills and farmers. Focus areas are salmonella control, feed safety and gut health in antibiotic free production systems. The acquisition of Micronutrients adds to Trouw Nutrition’s current product portfolio, including premixes, organic trace minerals and betaine.

Nutreco is a global leader in animal nutrition and aquaculture feed. Nutreco employs approximately 11,000 people in 35 countries with net sales of 5.3 billion euros in 2014. Its two global company brands Skretting (aquaculture feed) and Trouw Nutrition (animal nutrition) have sales in more than 90 countries. Nutreco is a wholly owned subsidiary of SHV Holdings N.V., a family-owned multinational with net sales of 14.9 billion euros (excluding Nutreco) in 2014.