Pharmazell: DPE invests in the generics specialist

Munich, December 16, 2013 – DPE announced today that it has acquired the majority of Zellbios Group (today Pharmazell), a globally leading manufacturer of niche, off-patent active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from Ergon Capital Partners. Zellbios will continue to be led by CEO Dr. Oliver Bolzern and his management team who will also remain investors in the company.

Zellbios develops and manufactures high-quality, specialty APIs for pharmaceutical companies through operations in Raubling, Germany and Gropello, Italy with additional plants in in India and Switzerland. Zellbios employs approx. 700 people and generates over €130 million in revenues. The Group enjoys leading market positions in several product areas such as steroids, mesalamine, sterile cephalosporins, certain amino acids and propafenone.

”Zellbios has unique market positions in various specialty niche markets and enjoys very attractive growth potentials in a number of its product categories”, says Marc Thiery, Managing Partner at DPE. “As a new partner to management, we are eager to support Zellbios’ growth strategy and further leverage its attractive R&D pipeline”, adds Guido Prehn, Partner at DPE.

“We are excited to have DPE as our new shareholder and look forward to developing the business together to its full potential”, says Zellbios CEO Dr. Oliver Bolzern.

The acquisition of Zellbios is DPE’s second investment in the Healthcare sector, one of DPEs four focus areas. Including Zellbios DPE has now eight companies in its current portfolio.

Marc Thiery and Guido Prehn are responsible for the transaction at DPE.

DPE was advised by Ernst & Young, The Boston Consulting Group, Latham & Watkins, P+P Pöllath + Partners and N+1 Deutschland.