31.01.2015 Views

Galenica acquires Sun Store - Galenica.com

Galenica acquires Sun Store - Galenica.com

Galenica acquires Sun Store - Galenica.com

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

ZABC<br />

PRESS RELEASE<br />

Date<br />

Contact<br />

Subject<br />

3 March 2009<br />

Investor Relations: Fritz Hirsbrunner, CFO, Head of Finance & Corporate Services Division, <strong>Galenica</strong> Group<br />

Media: Christina Hertig, Head of Corporate Communications, <strong>Galenica</strong> Group<br />

Acquisition of <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong><br />

((for public release on 3 March from 6.30 a.m. CET))<br />

<strong>Galenica</strong> <strong>acquires</strong> <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong><br />

<strong>Galenica</strong> is acquiring the <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> pharmacy chain, which was founded by entrepreneur<br />

Marcel Séverin and operates 100 shops throughout Switzerland.<br />

After <strong>Galenica</strong> acquired the Canadian <strong>com</strong>pany Aspreva in 2008, adding a new pharmaceutical<br />

and international dimension to Vifor Pharma, the Group is taking advantage of a unique<br />

opportunity to accelerate its growth in the Swiss pharmacy sector. This acquisition confirms<br />

<strong>Galenica</strong>’s strategy of growth and risk diversification.<br />

By expanding to 250 pharmacies, the acquisition of <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> will enable the Health Division to<br />

expand its leadership status in a market currently characterised by consolidation. The move<br />

will have a positive financial impact from 2009.<br />

<strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> – Switzerland's first pharmacy chain<br />

Businessman Marcel Séverin, 65, President and General Director, founded Switzerland's first<br />

pharmacy chain in 1972. Initially, the chain grew mostly in western Switzerland; from 2004, it also<br />

underwent an intensive growth phase in the German-speaking part of the country. The chain, which<br />

opened its 100 th pharmacy at the end of 2008, is well known, particularly in shopping centres and<br />

cities with high customer traffic. The pharmacies generally cover up to 600 m², enough space to offer<br />

a wide range of beauty, wellness and healthcare products in an attractive, customer-friendly setting.<br />

The <strong>com</strong>pany has a staff of some 1,780 and achieved sales of almost CHF 400 million in 2008.<br />

<strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> owes its success to Marcel Séverin's business acumen and proactive spirit. <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> is a<br />

reliable, profitable and well conducted <strong>com</strong>pany. <strong>Galenica</strong> is pleased to acquire this <strong>com</strong>pany, which<br />

had been wholly owned by its founder.<br />

An acquisition with great strategic and financial impact<br />

The acquisition of Aspreva in 2008 enabled the Pharma Division to incorporate Vifor Pharma, and to<br />

expand and diversify its pharmaceutical revenues at international level. <strong>Galenica</strong>'s top priority remains,<br />

as planned, to continue with the growth of Vifor Pharma as strategic pillar.<br />

The acquisition of <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> is a unique opportunity and will stimulate the growth of the Health<br />

Division.<br />

<strong>Galenica</strong> Ltd.<br />

Untermattweg 8 · P.O. Box · CH-3001 Bern<br />

Phone +41 58 852 85 17 · Fax +41 58 852 85 58<br />

media@galenica.<strong>com</strong> · www.galenica.<strong>com</strong><br />

The <strong>Galenica</strong> Group – excellence in the healthcare market


ZABC<br />

Date<br />

Page<br />

Subject<br />

3 March 2009<br />

2/3<br />

Acquisition of <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong><br />

It will also allow <strong>Galenica</strong> to build up its strategic Pharma and Health Divisions as independent but<br />

<strong>com</strong>plementary business entities. Separate management of these units is not planned. The strategy of<br />

growth and leverage, which the Group has followed since 1995, continues to generate profits while<br />

providing stability and strength, which is of particular relevance given the current state of the global<br />

economy.<br />

From a strategic standpoint, the acquisition of <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> will add the critical mass <strong>Galenica</strong>'s Retail<br />

business sector needs while maximising the use of the Group's logistics capacities, particularly at the<br />

new distribution centre in Niederbipp. Moreover, Triamun is also forging ahead with the development<br />

of its software applications; <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> is already its largest external client. Synergies with other Group<br />

<strong>com</strong>panies, such as Vifor Pharma, can also be harnessed. <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> <strong>com</strong>plements the <strong>Galenica</strong><br />

Group extremely well in terms of locations and calibre.<br />

The entire transaction is being financed with the Group's internal resources plus a very attractive<br />

external financing package guaranteed for ten years. The acquisition will already enhance the Group's<br />

results in 2009. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price of the transaction. Pending<br />

approval by the Competition Commission, the acquisition will take effect as from 1 July 2009.<br />

The identity of <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> within the <strong>Galenica</strong> Group will be preserved<br />

As agreed with the owner, Marcel Séverin, <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> will maintain its identity on the market, which is<br />

of particular importance because this pharmacy chain is the best known of its kind in Switzerland.<br />

Marcel Séverin will retire from operational management on 1 July. He will continue to be Chairman of<br />

<strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> SA to ensure a smooth transition, particularly with regard to plans for expansion. The<br />

chain’s <strong>com</strong>mercial independence and management infrastructure, based at St. Sulpice, are<br />

guaranteed and all jobs and employment conditions will be maintained. The <strong>com</strong>panies also intend to<br />

<strong>com</strong>plement one another by sharing their high level of expertise, primarily in the areas of service<br />

quality, quality control, patient services and <strong>com</strong>munication.<br />

<strong>Galenica</strong> increases cooperation with independent partners<br />

For many years, the healthcare and pharmaceuticals markets have been subject to heavy price and<br />

margin pressure from official agencies and health insurers. As a result, the industry has undergone a<br />

great deal of concentration over the last ten years. <strong>Galenica</strong> is confident that its cooperation with<br />

independent market players, pharmacists, doctors, druggists and hospitals can help establish<br />

networks; these in turn will be supported by technologies and services tailored to clients and patients<br />

while going a long way in keeping healthcare costs down. <strong>Galenica</strong>'s client partners will therefore profit<br />

directly and indirectly from the new services the Group plans to offer. <strong>Galenica</strong>'s Retail business<br />

sector intends to maintain leadership status in market services, quality patient services, home<br />

deliveries and general innovation. <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> offers 37 years of extensive experience that entails<br />

quality customer service and cooperation with health insurers as well as a strong ethos in meeting<br />

consumers' needs.


ZABC<br />

Date<br />

Page<br />

Subject<br />

3 March 2009<br />

3/3<br />

Acquisition of <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong><br />

For more information about these events, <strong>Galenica</strong> and <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong><br />

invite the media to a joint conference on 3 March 2009,<br />

Time: 10.30 a.m.<br />

Place: Hotel Alpha-Palmiers<br />

Rue du Petit Chêne 34<br />

1003 Lausanne<br />

approx. 2 minutes' walk from the SBB railway station<br />

For further information:<br />

Investor Relations:<br />

Media Relations:<br />

Fritz Hirsbrunner, CFO<br />

Christina Hertig, Head of Corporate Communications<br />

Phone +41 58 852 85 29 Phone +41 58 852 85 17<br />

E-Mail: investors@galenica.<strong>com</strong><br />

E-Mail: media@galenica.<strong>com</strong><br />

<strong>Galenica</strong> is a diversified group active throughout the healthcare market which, among other things,<br />

develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products, runs pharmacies, provides logistical<br />

and database services and sets up networks. The <strong>Galenica</strong> Group enjoys a leading position in all its<br />

business sectors – Vifor Pharma, Logistics, HealthCare Information and Retail. A large part of the<br />

Group’s in<strong>com</strong>e is generated by international operations.<br />

Additional information concerning the <strong>Galenica</strong> Group can be found at www.galenica.<strong>com</strong>.<br />

<strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> SA, headquartered in St. Sulpice, is a Swiss retail pharmacy chain. It operates more than<br />

100 speciality health stores, pharmacies, drugstores and perfumeries. The <strong>com</strong>pany has a staff of<br />

some 1,780 and in 2008 achieved sales of almost CHF 400 millions.<br />

Founded in 1972 by Marcel Séverin, the <strong>com</strong>pany opened its first shop in Sion and later expanded<br />

throughout western Switzerland. Since 2004, <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> has gradually expanded to German-speaking<br />

areas of Switzerland with 20 new locations.<br />

For more information on <strong>Sun</strong> <strong>Store</strong> visit www.sunstore.ch.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!