Deals Roundup - 3 January 2019: Russian Merger Aims For Top-10 Spot

An investment consortium is aiming to create “a top-10 Russian pharmaceutical company”, operating in the non-state sector, by combining its acquisition of local player OBL Pharm with its existing control of Binnopharm. Through their joint holding company Ristango Holding, conglomerate Sistema, VTB Bank and OBL’s management team have paid RUB15.5 billion (US$225 million) to acquire a 95.14% stake in OBL from Gazprombank and UFG private equity’s Alvansa vehicle.

“The acquisition of a stake in OBL Pharm creates a unique opportunity for Sistema and its partners to establish a leading player in Russia’s growing pharmaceuticals market by leveraging synergies with our portfolio company Binnopharm through joint use of production capacities, marketing and sales networks, and research and development capabilities,” insisted Sistema’s president and chief executive officer, Andrey Dubovskov