The Dutch-Swedish chemical and pharmaceutical group AKZO NOBEL acquired, through its subsidiary DIOSYNTH (ingredients for pharmaceutical products; turnover of EUR 380 million in 2000), the American CBSI - COVANCE BIOTECHNOLOGY SERVICES for a total of EUR 210 million. Specialised in the development and production of bio-pharmaceutical substances, CBSI is, this year, meant to record a turnover of USD 110 million.