According to an exclusive report in Reuters, BMS is looking to sell its French OTC subsidiary, Upsa, in a potential deal which could exceed €1bn (US$1.2bn). Deutsche Bank and Jefferies are said to be preparing the auction process, which will begin after the summer. It is rumoured that potential bidders may include Stada, Zentiva, Mylan and P&G, while Recordati could also decide to make a play for the company.
Upsa has been in operation for over 80 years and the company itself is a well-established brand in France, by far BMS’s key OTC market. According to DB6, BMS generated global OTC sales of US$477mn in 2017, 60% of which were generated in France (US$285mn). BMS’ next two biggest OTC markets are Belgium and China.
Upsa’s key brands are Dafalgan and Efferalgan analgesics (both paracetamol), as well as the paracetamol-based Fervex systemic cold & flu line. According to the latest OTC DASHBOARD trend report, Upsa is the No.2 OTC marketer in France behind Sanofi but sales there fell by 4.8% in 2017, with mid-single digit declines for Dafalgan and Efferalgan.
Price cuts for reimbursed semi-ethical painkillers like Dafalgan and Efferalgan have contributed to the decline in France, causing marketers like Upsa to shift focus from reimbursed options to pure OTCs; reimbursed Efferalgan SKUs were rebranded as Efferalganmed in October 2015. In December 2017, the marketer also rebranded Fervex medical device options as Les Élémentaires, in response to rising concerns about the use of umbrella branding which could confuse consumers.
With M&A activity in the CHC industry rapidly increasing, it might be the right time for your business to explore interesting and suitable growth opportunities coming from M&A. Our specialist M&A boutique is working with a number of strategic and financial partners to assess potential opportunities — for buyers and sellers — and is well placed to discuss the current business climate and possible synergies. To find out more, please contact ammar.basit@NicholasHall.com.
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