Freeths advises Agile Pharma B.V. on acquisition of Ace Laboratories

30th July 2024

National law firm Freeths has advised Netherlands-based Agile Pharma B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Aurobindo Pharma Limited, on its acquisition of UK-headquartered Ace Laboratories Limited.

Operating globally as part of the Aurobindo Group, Agile Pharma B.V. offers pharmaceutical ingredients and formulation products in neurosciences, cardiovascular, anti-retrovirals, anti-diabetics, gastroenterology, and cephalosporins.

UK-based Ace Laboratories Limited provides quality control testing and analytical development services for chemical and microbiological analysis of pharmaceutical products.

This deal will help Aurobindo Pharma respond to its growing business demands across the European market, providing increased testing capacity lending it an additional revenue stream.

The Freeths legal team was led by Corporate Partner Francis Dalton, who was supported by Managing Associate Ewen Lowrie and Associate Lottie Beange.

Reflecting on the deal, Francis said:

"We are delighted to have worked with the Agile Pharma team on this transaction. The deal showcases our sector expertise through the quality commercial advice we delivered, both on time and on budget.”

Since becoming a public company in 1992 and listing on the Indian stock exchanges in 1995, Aurobindo Pharma Group has become the market leader in Semi-Synthetic Penicillins.

Aurobindo Pharma’s-Europe CEO Venugopalan Muralidharan, added:

"Ace Laboratories addition to Aurobindo group of companies, will facilitate our growth strategy in UK and Europe.  Ace Labs will strengthen Aurobindo mission to bring in cost competitive generic drugs faster and timely every time to UK and Europe."