Talecris to expand in Clayton

Clayton apparently is the winner of a battle to determine where Talecris Biotherapeutics (Nasdaq: TLCR) will build new facilities to expand its global blood plasma-based therapies.

The expansion of Talecris operations in Clayton could mean hundreds of jobs.

A Talecris spokesperson declined to comment on media reports that Clayton will be the location. However, WRAL.com has learned that Talecris selected Clayton, where it already operates a large plant employing several hundred people, over another site in South Carolina.

Talecris officials have commented publicly on several occasions that a portion of funds raised from its recent initial public offering of stock would be used for facilities expansion.

The company’s headquarters are located in RTP. Between the headquarters and the production plant, Talecris has more than 2,000 employees in the Triangle area.

The Clayton Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a program at 9:30 a.m. Friday at The Clayton Center auditorium where it said a “major announcement regarding economic development” would be made.

Gov. Bev Perdue will be in attendance, the Chamber said in an e-mail.

At 9 a.m. Friday, the N.C. Economic Investment Committee will meet in Raleigh to discuss possible economic incentive contracts.

Typically, if the committee and a company have reached an agreement on a tax incentive or rebate package, a public announcement is made shortly after the committee endorses the contract.

Talecris Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Larry Stern said that Talecris would build a manufacturing facility after the company went public last month.

The company was created in 2005 when Bayer sold its blood plasma division to two outside firms.

In June, Talecris and Australia-based CSL called off a merger after the U.S. Federal trade Commission voiced objections to the deal, citing concerns about competition in the plasma market.