Date:09/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/09/stories/2005040905451800.htm

Business - Briefly

Matrix Lab, Aspen Pharma join hands

HYDERABAD:, Matrix Laboratories and Aspen Pharmacare Holdings (South Africa) announced a strategic alliance to strengthen their respective businesses by forming joint ventures in India and South Africa. Matrix and Aspen would form a 50:50 joint venture in India, which would manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) required by Aspen. In the second case, Matrix would pick up a 50 per cent stake in Fine Chemicals Corporation (South Africa), which is now totally owned by Aspen. N. Prasad, Chairman of Matrix said the strategic alliance would go a long way in strengthening overall API business.