Pace, Valent BioSciences to merge Chilean subsidiaries

The Chile-based unit of Pace International, LLC, will merge with Valent BioSciences Chile, Pace said on Thursday.

Pace's role in the merger involves the creation of a new division in Valent''s corporate structure, operating as the Postharvest Division, which will allow Pace to enhance its operational capacity within areas relating to logistics, administration and customer service.

"When we created Pace International Chile in 1999, we did so as a means to strengthen our offering of industry-leading post-harvest solutions to a regional market that is renowned for the quality of its fruit production," Roberto Carpentier , executive vice president and COO of Pace, said. "This integration with Valent BioSciences Chile will consolidate that process."

In 2012, Pace was acquired by Valent BioSciences Corp. (VBC), and both VBC and Valent BioSciences Chile are owned by Sumitomo Chemical Company (SCC).

"As the only multinational solutions provider with a portfolio that includes conventional, biorational and post-harvest products, the SCC group continues to expand their distinctive market presence by bringing our knowledge, cultures and technologies together in ways that create unique value, not only in Chile, Latin America and South Africa, but for our customers around the world,"  Gonzalo Maturana , general manager of Valent BioSciences Chile, said. "We are excited about this development and the opportunities it creates for our customers and our respective organizations."

The company said service is not expected to be interrupted for Pace clients, as they will be transferred under Valent, but staffing will remain the same.