VEM, the parent company of Ratiopharm, has directed Commerzbank and BNP Paribas to put together staple financing in support of potential Ratiopharm bidders. VEM put the German pharmaceutical producer on the auction block earlier this year in an attempt to raise capital to pay down debts. Ludwig Merckle would like to see Ratiopharm sold as [...]

Ludwig Merckle, son of the late German billionaire Adolf Merckle, has begun shedding assets in an attempt to raise capital to pay down debt. Among the assets being disposed of is German generic drug manufacturer Ratiopharm GmbH. VEM, Merckle’s main investment vehicle, is responsible for conducting the sale which has attracted plenty of potential buyers [...]

Fervent Holding, a member of the consolidated J&T Group, announces that it has accepted the voluntary offer put forth by the company Sanofi-Aventis Europe for the takeover of its shares in the firm Zentiva. Fervent Holdings Fervent Holdings is owner of 2,905,960 shares of Zentiva, which represents a 7.62% stake. Zentiva (www.zentiva.cz) Zentiva N.V. is [...]

Czech finance firm PPF, a privately held investment group has agreed to sell its shares of generic drug maker Zentiva. Zentiva had been working on a deal for the takeover of the company by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis. Sanofi’s bid which was scheduled to expire February 20th, was contingent upon them acquiring at least 50% [...]

Sanofi-Aventis appears likely to purchase a 10.06% stake in Czech pharmaceutical manufacturer Zentiva. The shares are being sold by Belviport Trading Ltd., a private shareholder of the company. Sanofi-Aventis is already Zentiva’s largest shareholder at nearly 25%, and it has been trying since last year to purchase a majority share. The sale by Belviport is [...]