Pfizer Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Ferrosan’s consumer healthcare business, which includes dietary supplements and lifestyle products, from Altor 2003 Fund GP Limited.
Based in Copenhagen, Ferrosan is an innovative and long-established consumer healthcare company in the Nordic region with a portfolio of leading brands. Since 1920, Ferrosan has grown to serve a broader market including Russia, the Ukraine, Poland, Turkey and many countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe.
“Ferrosan is an excellent strategic fit that strengthens our presence in dietary supplements with a new set of compelling brands and product pipeline,” said Paul Sturman, president, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. “The transaction will mark an important step towards expanding Ferrosan’s brands through Pfizer’s global footprint. As an immediate result of this acquisition, we will gain greater distribution and scale for Pfizer’s well-known brands such as Centrum and Caltrate in Ferrosan’s regions.”
Ferrosan’s portfolio of products include Multi-tabs, a popular multivitamin brand, Bifiform, a leading probiotic, Fri Flyt/Active Omega, an Omega 3 product, and IMEDEEN premium oral skincare brands. These Ferrosan brands are among the top-selling products in their respective categories.
Ola Erici, president of Ferrosan, said, “We are very pleased that Ferrosan’s innovative portfolio of leading brands will be joining Pfizer. We expect that, as part of the Pfizer portfolio, our products will build on their industry-leading positions and become available in more countries around the world. And, at the same time, Pfizer will be able to leverage its footprint in key Ferrosan markets with new Pfizer products.”
The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval in certain jurisdictions, is expected to close during the second quarter 2011. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Pfizer’s financial advisors were Barclays Capital and Guggenheim Securities, LLC. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acted as US counsel for Pfizer with Gorrissen Federspiel advising Pfizer on Danish law.
Ferrosan was founded in 1920 and has a long-standing pharmaceutical heritage. Headquartered in Copenhagen, Ferrosan Consumer Health today employs approximately 640 people and is engaged in the sale of science-based consumer healthcare products primarily in the Nordic region and the emerging markets of Russia and Central and Eastern Europe.
The Altor funds (Altor) are private equity funds comprising the “Altor 2003 Fund”, with committed capital of EUR 650 million, the “Altor Fund II”, with committed capital of EUR 1,150 million and also the “Altor Fund III”, with committed capital of EUR 2,000 million. Altor is advised by Altor Equity Partners. Altor invests in companies in the Nordic region with a focus on value creation through growth initiatives, strategic development and operational improvements and has since its inception in 2003 invested in 27 platform investments and more than 30 add-on acquisitions.