KKR, US private equity giant, will acquire about 54 per cent stake in Mumbai-based drug manufacturer JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, one of the oldest pharma companies in India, for Rs 3,100 crore (US$ 439.78 million). This is the second KKR investment in India in the past two months. In May, company agreed to invest Rs 11,367 crore (US$ 1.6 billion) in Reliance Industries’ digital assets subsidiary Jio Platforms for a 2.32 per cent stake, its largest investment in Asia till date.
J.B. Chemicals has a portfolio in the areas of cardiac, gastrointestinal, and anti-infective therapeutic across the branded formulations market.
It has four flagship brands in India, Cilacar, Metrogyl, Nicardia and Rantac. Currently, it exports its branded formulations to more than 40 countries around the world.
The company has contract manufacturing capabilities that allows it to partner with large, international brands to develop a diverse range of innovative specialty products, including tablets, injectables, creams and ointments, lozenges, herbal liquids, and capsules.
Mr J.B. Mody, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of J.B. Chemicals, said, “For more than four decades, J.B. Chemicals’ mission has been to deliver affordable, high-quality pharmaceutical products that improve the lives of individuals living in India and around the world. We are thrilled that KKR – with its deep knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and experience in investing in the sector, as well as its extensive investments in India – will take our mission forward and build on the foundation of core values that our family has instilled in this company. This will also create growth opportunities for our people to progress."
Mr Sanjay Nayar, Partner and CEO of KKR India, said, “We are pleased that the promoters of J.B. Chemicals have selected us to take over their rich legacy and to help the company continue its expansion, which is clearly driven by its diversified product portfolio and state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities. We believe J.B. Chemicals has an opportunity to accelerate its growth and leverage its strengths to enter new therapeutic areas. We look forward to working with the management team to build on the company’s strong foundation and believe this investment underscores KKR’s ongoing commitment to India’s long-term economic prospects and the potential of its companies."
KKR has a history of supporting companies in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors globally. In India, KKR’s pharmaceutical and healthcare investments include Max Healthcare and Radiant Life Care, which collectively comprise the largest hospital network in North India. It had also invested in Gland Pharma, an Indian pure-play generic injectable pharmaceutical products company that was the first company in India to get US Food and Drug Administration approval for pharmaceutical liquid injectable products.
This transaction is subjected to regulatory and other customary approvals. Company will provide funds from its Asian Fund III.
Financial advisor to the Promoters of J.B. Chemicals for this deal was Avendus Capital, and Platinum Partners (Mumbai) acted as legal counsel. To KKR, Moelis & Company served as financial advisor, EY as accounting and tax diligence advisor, and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP acted as legal counsel.
ICICI Securities Limited will be acting as the manager to the public tender offer.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.