Penta is expected to buy the retail operations of the group – the Sensiblu and Punkt pharmacy chains, and the pharmaceutical wholesaler Mediplus Exim.
A&D Pharma is the leading pharmaceutical wholesaler through its Mediplus Exim company and the second leading pharmaceutical retailer, with overall revenue of EUR1.3 billion.
The talks between Penta Investment and A&D Pharma shareholders – Walid Abboud, Roger Akoury, Ludovic Robert and Michel Eid, are exclusive, so Penta could pay up to EUR50 million if it decides to back out of the deal.
The Czech firm has previously negotiated the takeover of A&D Pharma more than five years ago but the talks fell through at the time. They are now in an advanced stage, market sources say, adding the deal might amount to EUR300 million to EUR400 million. Penta will pay an initial amount and then new installments depending on the performance in the following years.
Market sources say the decision to sell A&D Pharma was because the group is the largest in its sector and growth prospects are moderate on a market that is seeing modest performance.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)