A&D Pharma Holdings Says in Talks To Acquire Drug Companies in CEE

The targeted companies are: Arishop Pharma and its subsidiaries in Bulgaria; Ozone Laboratories Polska and Ozone Laboratories Polska Services in Poland; Ozone Laboratories Magyarorszag in Hungary; Ozone Laboratories Slovakia in Slovakia and Ozone Laboratories Czech Republic in the Czech Republic, the holding said in a statement.

“A&D Pharma is contemplating this acquisition in order to accelerate its growth outside of Romania and in its sales and marketing division. With this acquisition, A&D Pharma would make a step forward in its strategy to consolidate its position as one of the largest integrated pharmaceutical company in Central and Eastern Europe,” A&D Pharma CEO Robert Popescu, said in the statement.

All the target companies are related parties with A&D Pharma. They provide marketing and sales services to pharmaceutical manufacturers and are also active in import and distribution of medicines.

In Bulgaria, Arishop Pharma and its subsidiaries specialise in the promotion of pharmaceutical products to pharmacies and hospitals, as well as in the import and distribution of medicines. In Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, Ozone Laboratories sells prescription and over-the-counter drugs, food supplements and selected medical devices.

The acquisition is subject to further negotiations and approval by both parties’ senior management and a consortium of five banks which recently granted a 100 million euro ($146 million) refinancing loan to A&D Pharma. Due diligence has been conducted and, if approved, the acquisition is expected to be completed before the end of 2009, A&D Pharma Holdings said.

($ = 0.6832 euro)