With this acquisition, its largest to date, Uriach would consolidate its leadership in the Natural Consumer Healthcare sector in Europe
Uriach announces today that a commitment has been reached in order to acquire the French company Laboratoires Ineldea, a leading specialist in natural self-care products. As a result of the contemplated transaction, Ineldea would join the European platform that Uriach has built around the Natural Consumer Healthcare business, as an absolutely complementary piece, both geographically (adding France and Belgium) and on a portfolio level, which would allow for many important commercial synergies, thereby accelerating organic growth in the coming years. Subject to the satisfaction of legally required preliminary consultations and approval procedures, the contemplated transaction is expected to be completed during the first months of 2024.
Ineldea, after 20 years of presence on the market, has an annual turnover of nearly 100 million euros, thanks to its latest external growth in April 2022 with the acquisition of the Anfatis distribution platform in Italy, 230 employees and a large portfolio of effective natural products for health and well-being, some of which are category leaders in France: a paediatric line under the PEDIAKID brand, different ranges of products based on essential oils (OLIOSEPTIL brand), vitamin complexes (VITAMIN22), nutritional supplements for athletes (STC NUTRITION) or food supplements marketed on medical recommendation (COPMED), among others.
Framed within a strategy of consolidation as the leading Natural Consumer Healthcare platform on our continent, the contemplated acquisition would be the eighth corporate operation in recent years and would give Uriach a direct presence in ten countries; Italy (acquisition of Laborest in 2015, and A.R.Fitofarma and Progine in 2019); Portugal (acquisition of Theralab in 2018); Germany, Austria and Switzerland (through the purchase of Sidroga in 2021); Romania, (acquisition of Medimow in 2022); France and Belgium with Ineldea; and Greece through a joint venture.
Oriol Segarra, CEO of Uriach, explains that “this acquisition would represent a decisive step for the completion of our strategic transformation. Thanks to the addition of Ineldea and its team, we would cover the most important markets in Europe and our ambition, particularly in the current context with ICG as a new shareholder, is to accelerate growth to be the leading platform in the Natural Consumer Healthcare sector in Europe.”
Nicolas Cappelaere, founder, owner and CEO of Laboratoires INELDEA commented: “We are excited by the prospect of this corporate operation with Uriach, which would support our existing strategy, while also providing us with the opportunity to accelerate our growth in our various markets. It would allow Ineldea, after 20 years of successful development under my leadership, to join a strong and highly reputable family group and what I consider the best European Natural Consumer Healthcare project, which fits perfectly with our model and future vision.”
The contemplated acquisition would give Uriach sales of around 450 million euros in 2024, which was the target for 2025 under the current strategic plan. This significant milestone would allow Uriach to grow faster than forecast. The intention of its partnership with ICG is to accelerate growth, both organically and through acquisitions, either incorporating new geographical markets, such as Scandinavia and Eastern Europe and/or strengthening its position in countries where it already operates through consolidation of its most important local businesses.
About Uriach:
Uriach is a company that believes in the power of nature, enhanced by science, as the best and most sustainable way to improve human health and well-being. Uriach wants to positively impact people's lives and the planet. That is why we are 100% focused on Natural Consumer Healthcare. We offer the consumer the best natural products, based on solid science and innovation.
With a history going back 185 years of our iconic international brands with a presence in the main European markets include Aquilea, Fisiocrem, Laborest, Aerored, Fave de Fuca, Utabon, Biodramina and Halibut,. Today, Uriach has more than 850 employees. We have subsidiaries in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Romania and France, and we sell our products in more than 20 other countries.