Eurazeo today announced that it has entered into exclusive discussions to sell its stake in SEQENS to funds advised by SK Capital Partners (“SK Capital”) and to the company’s existing French shareholders: Mérieux Equity Partners, Ardian and Eximium. Nov Santé Actions Non Cotées (“Nov Santé”), the fund launched at the initiative of the French Insurance Federation (FFA) and Caisse des Dépôts under their sustainable recovery investment program for France (“Assureurs – Caisse des Dépôts Relance Durable France”) and managed by Eurazeo, would also invest in SEQENS. Bpifrance is currently exploring the possibility of co-investing with SK Capital.
The deal is expected to close by the end of 2021, subject to the fulfillment of the standard conditions precedent for this type of transaction.
Under Eurazeo’s and its partners’ leadership, since the group’s acquisition in June 2016, SEQENS has confirmed its positioning as an integrated global player in pharmaceutical solutions and specialty ingredients with €1 billion in revenues, 19 industrial sites, 7 R&D centers and nearly 3,000 employees on 3 continents. During this period, SEQENS also expanded its technological and industrial footprint with more than €400 million invested in all its industrialfacilities and the completion of three major external growth operations.
The potential entry of SK Capital in the capital of SEQENS would enable the group to accelerate its growth and enhance its position as a leader in the development and production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”), pharmaceutical intermediates and specialty ingredients. SEQENS would leverage SK Capital’s knowledge in the pharmaceutical sector and could benefit from a potential merger with Wavelength Pharmaceuticals (“Wavelength”), an API development and manufacturing company owned by SK Capital since 2017. A combination of the two companies’ activities could increase the group’s industrial footprint, its product and technology portfolio, while preserving the know-how and skills of both companies for the benefit of their respective customers.
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to support SEQENS with our deep experience and relationships in the pharmaceutical and specialty ingredients markets. SEQENS is well regarded for its recognized know-how, capacity for innovation, global industrial footprint and broad portfolio of products and technologies. The potential combination with Wavelength will further extend these strengths to the benefit of both companies’ customers and employees. We are enthusiastic about the continuing commitment to SEQENS of its current shareholders, Mérieux Equity Partners, Ardian and Eximium as well as Nov Santé, which will provide the company with a broad range of perspectives and capital sources to further its growth.” said Aaron Davenport, Managing Director of SK Capital.
“Over the last five years, Eurazeo has supported SEQENS in its expansion efforts, helping the company become anintegrated global player in pharmaceutical solutions. We are proud to have supported Pierre Luzeau and his teams in the strategic repositioning of SEQENS. This significant transformation has been achieved through a balanced combination of structuring external growth operations, investments in R&D and innovative technologies as well as operational improvements that now allow SEQENS to aim for global leadership.” confirmed Wilfried Piskula, Managing Director, Mid-Large Buyout of Eurazeo.
“With the support of its shareholders, the group has become one of the world leaders in pharmaceutical synthesis. The significant investments made over the last five years in our plants, in R&D, and in disruptive technologies allowus to offer the widest range of services and products on the market for the benefit of our customers. With SK Capital, supported by Nov Santé and our current shareholders Mérieux Equity Partners, Ardian and Eximium, we will accelerate the projects launched in recent months and further strengthen our positions to support our customersworldwide in the development of their projects.” said Pierre Luzeau, President of SEQENS.
