Sell-side advisory

Advisor to the Lacer shareholders on the sale of the company to Italfarmaco

AZ Capital has advised Lacer shareholders on the sale of the company to Italfarmaco. The combination of Lacer and Italfarmaco will have around 1,300 employees in Spain and 3,500 internationally, generating a consolidated turnover of more than €1,000 MM. This union represents an excellent opportunity to continue driving growth of both companies in Spain (reaching the Top-5 ranking of branded pharmaceutical laboratories) and internationally

Lacer is a pharmaceutical company founded in 1949 in Barcelona that operates through two divisions: personal care and prescription medicines. The company, with more than 70 years of history, is a leader in the pharmacy channel, specialising in segments such as oral hygiene, varicose vein treatment and hair loss. Owning well-known brands such as Lacer, Thrombocid, Pilexil, Talquistina or Anso, the company has annual sales of more than €150 MM, employs 476 people and is present in 18 countries.

Italfarmaco is a family-owned pharmaceutical group of Italian origin with more than 80 years of history and more than 30 years of presence in Spain. Its main activity is the manufacture and marketing of medicines, nutraceuticals and medical devices in different therapeutic areas such as Gynaecology, Respiratory, Rheumatology, Traumatology, Cardiology, Neurology, Dermatology, Paediatrics and Psychiatry. Italfarmaco markets its products directly in about 30 countries in Europe, the USA, Latin America and MENA.

The integration into Italfarmaco will allow Lacer to consolidate leadership in Spain through active investment in its existing brands and in the expansion of its product portfolio, both in healthcare and prescription medicines divisions. In addition, Lacer will see its international growth boosted by benefiting from Italfarmaco's global sales network of subsidiaries and distributors.

In words of Dr. Francesco De Santis, President of Italfarmaco, "The incorporation of Lacer's business, brands and talented staff is an important reinforcement of our company in Spain and gives continuity to Italfarmaco's spirit of sustained growth, with the aim of leading the different business areas in which we are present and providing new therapeutic alternatives that improve people's health".

In words of the Andress Family, shareholders of Lacer, "Lacer will benefit from the support of a new experienced partner that will allow both companies to grow together towards the creation of a European pharmaceutical leader. This integration will allow Lacer to continue its success story and ensure that the legacy that began more than 70 years ago will live on”.

Sector: Healthcare and Pharma