4 juni 2013

Finland: Oriola-KD has completed the acquisition of Medstop

Medstop has been reported to have become a part of Oriola-KD’s Swedish whole- and retail sale segment starting from June. The acquisition is thought to bring EUR 8-10 million per year in synergies, in full effect starting 2015.

After the acquisition Oriola-KD has 290 pharmacies in Sweden, their market share is about 21% of the Swedish retail sales and the number of staff members is about 1600.

Intelligence reporting by Global Intelligence Alliance

Original article on Arvopaperi in Finnish language

29 maj 2013

Sweden: Competition Authority approves recent pharmacy chain acquisitions

Both Kronans Droghandel's purchase of Medstop and Apotek Hjärtat's purchase of Vårdapoteket have been approved by the Competition Authority.

The concentration of market that transactions entail is not considered harmful to competition.

“Generally we would block a merger if it significantly impedes competition and it does not do that in these cases,” says the Competition Councilor Maria Ulfvensjö Baltatzis at the Competition Authority.

The Competition Authority notes that after both transactions Apoteket AB will still be the largest player in the market with its 370 pharmacies.

Intelligence reporting by Global Intelligence Alliance

Original article on Svensk Farmaci in Swedish language