Abbott to Pay up to $495M for Russia's Veropharm

June 24, 2014

Abbott announced an agreement to acquire Veropharm, a leading Russian pharmaceutical manufacturer. Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott will acquire Garden Hills LLC, the holding company that currently owns a controlling interest in Veropharm, for between $395 million to $495 million, depending on Garden Hills' share ownership of Veropharm at time of close. Garden Hills currently owns more than 80 percent of Veropharm but is expected to own more than 95 percent by the time the transaction closes. Abbott will also assume net debt of approximately $136 million U.S. dollars.

Through this acquisition Abbott will obtain a portfolio of medicines that is well aligned with its current pharmaceutical therapeutic areas of focus in women's health, central nervous system, cardiovascular, and gastroenterology, while also adding an offering in the field of oncology. Veropharm's product portfolio includes over 100 pharmaceutical products and employs more than 2,000 people.

Upon completion of the transaction, Abbott would also establish a manufacturing presence in Russia through its ownership of Veropharm's existing production facilities as well as a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that is currently under construction by Veropharm. Abbott intends to utilize its manufacturing expertise to expand Veropharm's capabilities and enhance the existing infrastructure.

Abbott plans to fund the transaction with cash on the balance sheet. The company expects the acquisition to add approximately $150 million U.S. dollars in sales in 2015. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter and will not impact Abbott's ongoing earnings-per-share guidance for 2014. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.