Sun Pharma to Close Detroit Manufacturing Plant

Drug major Sun Pharmaceuticals will close its facility at Detroit as part of a manufacturing consolidation process in the US.

The Workforce Development Agency for State of Michigan has been notified about the decision to stop operations and close the Detroit plant, which belongs to subsidiary Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Sun Pharma said in a statement.

The generic drugmaker recently inked a $3.2-billion (Rs 19,200 crore at 1 dollar = 60 rupees) deal to buy Ranbaxy Laboratories.

"The company has provided the requisite advance written notice of the facility closure to the employee union and all affected employees," it added.

Impacted employees will get compensated with more than their regular entitlement under the severance package, the Mumbai-based firm said.

"They will also receive other support services, including out-placement assistance. The rest of the employees are continuing through mutually consented arrangements," it added.

The firm said it has undertaken measures to ensure business continuity of products made at the plant.

"The manufacturing of these products is being transferred to other units and all necessary steps have been taken to avoid market shortage," it added.

Sun Pharma expects negligible impact of this development on its FY15 consolidated revenue, it added.

Shares in Sun Pharma, on Friday, ended at Rs 630 apiece on the BSE, down 0.25 per cent from the close.