Pharmacy clusters sold for SEK 5.9 billion

Four parties have entered into share transfer agreements regarding the acquisition of all eight pharmacy clusters offered for sale. One of the most important steps in the re-regulation of the Swedish pharmacy market has thereby been completed.

"The sales process has gone entirely according to plan, and we are happy to be able to present these purchasers. There has been considerable interest in each cluster, which has led to the good outcome. At OAB we are convinced that the goals of a secure provision of drugs, greater accessibility and better service for Swedish pharmacy consumers will be achieved when the new actors are up and running," says Eva-Britt Gustafsson, MD of OAB.

The total sales price for all of the pharmacy clusters amounts to SEK 5.9 billion. The following parties have entered into agreements to acquire the clusters stated below:

Apotek Hjärtat, owned by Altor, acquires clusters 1 and 8, which comprise 208 pharmacies, with a turnover of SEK 7.1 billion and 1,500 employees.

Kronans Droghandel Retail AB, owned by Oriola-KD and KF, acquires cluster 2, which comprise 171 pharmacies, with a turnover of SEK 4.4 billion and 930 employees.

Medstop Holding AB, owned by Segulah, acquires clusters 3, 4 and 5, which comprise 62 pharmacies, with a turnover of SEK 3.1 billion and 660 employees.

Vårdapoteket i Norden AB, owned by Investor and Priveq Investment, acquires clusters 6 and 7, which comprise 24 pharmacies, with a turnover of SEK 1.4 billion and 230 employees.

"In this way a market has been created consisting of the four purchasers, Apoteket AB and the group of small businesses pharmacies together with newly established actors. We feel that this creates a good market structure made up of a number of actors with varying emphasis and geographical coverage," says Eva-Britt Gustafsson.

The transactions are dependent on the approvals of the Medical Products Agency and the competition authorities, and the purchasers being connected to a transitional solution, for example as regards IT. When these conditions have been met, the companies can take over and begin to run the businesses in their respective pharmacy clusters.

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For further information contact:       
Anna Lena Boucht, public relations manager, +46 (0)70-347 23 05