The Aenova Group has entered an agreement to acquire Haupt Pharma, which specializes in contract development and manufacturing for the pharmaceutical industry. Financial details were not disclosed. The transaction, subject customary closing conditions, is expected to be finalized at end of 2013.
 
Both companies have global footprints with European foundations and headquarters in Germany. The merger expands Aenova’s range of products and services with its existing production network increasing from eight to 21 sites. Aenova will gain new production facilities in Germany (Berlin, Brackenheim, Münster, Gronau, Regensburg, Wolfratshausen) and in Europe, as well as its first site in Asia (Japan). The number of employees will increase from 2,500 to more than 4,000.
 
“The strategic activities of both companies complement each other very well and this move gives us further areas of expertise strongly focusing on forward-looking sectors in the pharmaceutical market, which are a perfect fit with our existing portfolio,” said Heiner Hoppmann, chief executive officer of the Aenova Group. The merger will add areas such as sterile manufacturing and the production of special active ingredients (including hormones, antibiotics and cytostatics) for the pharmaceutical industry to Aenova’s existing range of solid, semi-solid and liquid dosage forms. The company’s full service portfolio will in future include all the product groups and all the main dosage forms for medicines and dietary supplements.
 
“The merger of the two companies offers the ideal opportunity for Haupt Pharma to consolidate and continue the growth that it has experienced in recent years. The merger will increase our competitiveness in a challenging market and, as a result, make us significantly more attractive to our customers,” said Otto Prange, chairman of the supervisory board of Haupt Pharma. Mr. Prange will be a co-shareholder of the Aenova Group.