Zila Completes Acquisition of Ester-C Maker Oxycal Labs

PHOENIX, AZ—Publicly held medical and dental health-products maker Zila Inc. (ZILA) has completed its acquisition of privately held vitamin-C manufacturer Oxycal Laboratories Inc. Terms were not disclosed.

Oxycal and its manufacturing subsidiary Inter-Cal make Ester-C-brand vitamin C, the top-selling branded vitamin C in health food stores for the past three years.

The acquisition was financed by New York-based investment bankers Jesup and Lamont and is expected to have a positive impact on Zila’s earnings. Net sales for Oxycal’s FY97 were $14.5 million, a 32% increase over FY96. Zila’s net sales for FY97 were $38.6 million.

Manufacturing and management at Oxycal will remain in Prescott, AZ. Former VP of Operations Nancy Chandler has been named president of Oxycal.