TLG Capital (TLG) today announced the acquisition of the distribution and marketing business in certain therapy areas in French West Africa (FWA) of Cipla Limited (BSE: 500087; NSE: CIPLA EQ; and hereafter referred to as “Cipla”).
The deal was concluded on 31st December 2018. This marks TLG’s first investment in FWA and is the firm’s seventh private deal in Africa over the past twelve months.
TLG has been investing in African healthcare since 2009 and this deal is the firm’s fourth investment in the sector. It is also the second partnership between Cipla and TLG in Africa providing an opportunity for the two firms to consolidate and build on a successful ten-year relationship after having first partnered up in 2009 with Cipla Quality Chemicals Industries Limited in Uganda.
The transaction will see TLG acquire the marketing authorisations for a portfolio of 45 drugs from Cipla currently being marketed and distributed in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Republic, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo – countries where there is a crucial need for such high quality and lower cost drugs. The drugs portfolio, which are currently available for sale in pharmacies, dispensers, hospitals and general wholesale networks, include every-day medicines like pain and fever relief, allergy and ulcer treatments – as well as more specialised medicines, like antiparasitic, antibiotics, cholesterol and high-blood pressure & heart conditions and uncomplicated malaria.
Frederic Bidet, Chief Operating Officer at TLG Capital, said: “This deal reiterates TLG’s commitment to support African businesses that delivers high quality and affordable medical drugs and services across the continent. We are excited about the opportunity in FWA as we believe the markets remain under penetrated. In addition, there is scope to build outside of FWA and potential synergies exist with TLG’s current healthcare portfolio – Snapper Hill Clinics in Liberia and Express Pharmacy in Nigeria. Cipla has been an excellent long-term partner with TLG and we look forward to another successful partnership in Africa.”
About Cipla Limited:
Established in 1935, Cipla is a global pharmaceutical company focused on agile and sustainable growth, complex generics, and deepening portfolio in our home markets of India, South Africa, North America, and key regulated and emerging markets. Our strengths in the respiratory, anti-retroviral, urology, cardiology and CNS segments are well-known. Our 44 manufacturing sites around the world produce 50+ dosage forms and 1,500+ products using cutting-edge technology platforms to cater to our 80+ markets. Cipla is ranked 3rd largest in pharma in India (IQVIA MAT Sept’18), 3rd largest in the pharma private market in South Africa (IQVIA YTD Aug’18), and is among the most dispensed generic players in the US. For over eight decades, making a difference to patients has inspired every aspect of Cipla’s work. Our paradigm-changing offer of a triple anti-retroviral therapy in HIV/AIDS at less than a dollar a day in Africa in 2001 is widely acknowledged as having contributed to bringing inclusiveness, accessibility and affordability to the centre of the movement. A responsible corporate citizen, Cipla’s humanitarian approach to healthcare in pursuit of its purpose of ‘Caring for Life’ and deep-rooted community links wherever it is present make it a partner of choice to global health bodies, peers and all stakeholders. For more, please visit www.cipla.com, or click on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIN.
About TLG Capital: TLG Capital is an award-winning investment holding company that focuses on private equity and debt opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Debt investments are carried out through the Credit Opportunities Fund which provides investors access to the African consumer growth story. In a short span of time, the firm has built a reputation for achieving superior commercial returns. It has garnered the backing of some of the most prominent and reputable investors in the alternative investments space. www.tlgcapital.com.
