Press Release
Sint-Denijs-Westrem, October 6th 2022
Ceres Pharma acquires Labophar
Ceres Pharma reached an agreement with Dovesco to acquire 100% of the shares of Labophar. Simultaneously Dovesco will re-invest its proceeds in Ceres Pharma.
With the acquisition of Labophar, Ceres Pharma will further grow its OTC business in the Benelux and in Central and Eastern Europe.
In 2015 the Belgian company Labophar was founded from LabArt (a personalized home advice brand of qualitative food supplements for pharmacies) and EF&S (Energetic Food And Supplements). Meanwhile, Labophar has grown into a reliable partner among Belgian pharmacists and doctors with strong brands such as Natural Energy®, MagneBplusD®, Bioradix®, Silix® and Orgitan®.
"I am very happy that we have come to an agreement with Labophar. This acquisition fits perfectly within Ceres Pharma’s Women and Family Health strategy. On the one hand, the Labophar brand portfolio in addition to our Credophar and 2Pharma brand portfolio are answering today’s demand to create value for the Belgian pharmacists and doctors. On the other hand, Labophar’s e-commerce platform will be an attractive new go-to-market channel for Ceres Pharma’s brand portfolio, for brands such as Etixx® and Belène®”, says Mario Debel, CEO of Ceres Pharma.
Labophar realized a turnover of 7 million euros in 2021. Bram Van Peteghem, one of the founders and CEO of Labophar, will also re-invest an important part of his proceeds and will remain on board. He will lead the integration of Labophar, Credophar and 2Pharma into one strong Ceres Pharma Benelux organization. “I am pleased to be part of a strong, dynamic and fast growing international group, such as Ceres Pharma and I am looking forward to helping take Ceres Pharma Benelux to the next level", says Bram Van Peteghem, CEO of Labophar.
The price of the takeover will not be disclosed.
About Ceres Pharma
Ceres Pharma is a dynamic and fast growing, Belgian based, pharmaceutical company, founded in 2017 by CEO Mario Debel and Alychlo and recently acquired in 2021 by Naxicap Partners. It is the ambition of Ceres Pharma to grow through the development of its own product portfolio as well as through acquisitions. Ceres Pharma is active in the development and distribution of drugs, medical devices, biocides, cosmetics, qualitative food supplements and pharmaceutical preparations in the Benelux and in Central and Eastern Europe.
About Naxicap Partners
As one of the top private equity firms in France, Naxicap Partners - an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers - has more than €5 billion in assets under management. As a committed, responsible investor, Naxicap Partners builds solid, constructive partnerships with entrepreneurs so that their projects can succeed. The firm has 39 investment professionals spread across five offices in Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Nantes and Frankfurt.
About Dovesco
Dovesco is a leading Belgian investment company that is active in the mid-market segment. It invests in and grows profitable businesses with leading market positions in partnership with strong management teams and entrepreneurs. Dovesco has over the last years made more than 20 investments.
About Labophar
Labophar is a Belgian company that develops and distributes high quality food supplements in collaboration with an extensive network of pharmacists and doctors for the Belgian pro-active health consumer. Labophar was founded by Bram Van Peteghem, Valérie De Troyer and Michaël Vervisch.