Zambon plans to make acquisitions in Brazil
Valor Econômico
After three years of restructuring, the Italian pharmaceutical laboratory Zambon has decided it is time to invest. "The international headquarters have approved the making of acquisitions outside Italy, with investments aimed at the emerging countries", said Wilson Borges, President of the company in Brazil. The group shall invest € 100 million in Brazil, with the acquisition of products and a mid-sized laboratory. Partnerships will also be welcomed. One was entered into in May, with the Boheringer laboratory, which had great idle capacity at its plant in Itapecerica da Serra, in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo.
The decision of shutting down the plant in Brazil was taken because Zambon was not able to enlarge the unit since it was installed within the urban perimeter. "The unit required heavy investments for its modernization", he said. In May, the plant facilities and the land were sold and Zambon moved their production to Itapecerica. The plans of having its own plant may be achieved with the purchase of a laboratory in the country, affirmed Borges. In such regard, the group is already keeping conversation, but it has still not hit the hammer. "The assets in Brazil have become very expensive, even for mid-sized companies", he explained.
In fact, the recent movements of concentration in the pharmaceutical sector - the French Sanofi-Aventis acquired Medley and Hypermarcas purchased the Brazilian Neo Química, to mention just the last two cases - have increased in the country. "The headquarters decided they do not want to make acquisitions of ‘blockbusters' [best-selling drugs], but rather make acquisitions in areas in which it already operates and there is the possibility to grow", he said. The Bric countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are on the radar to receive investments of the Italian company. "Brazil is the flavor of the month. Other Bric countries are also important. However, the average prices of medicines there are still low".
With earnings of nearly € 500 million, Zambon, which operates in the area of respiratory diseases, pain/inflammation and women's health, wants to grow in those segments. "Zambon is in a process of evolution. Even though it is a multinational, it is not a global company. The group now decided to go international by means of local acquisitions". In Brazil, the group intends to double in size within three years. Partnerships to develop drugs can be the answer for the expansion. In Italy, the group has joined Indena in order to produce herbal medicines. The group intends to do the same in the country and it is already seeking agreements in that regard.