Ropes & Gray Advises on Sale of Global Pharma Company Acino

Ropes & Gray has advised leading healthcare investors Avista Capital Partners and Nordic Capital and Swiss pharmaceutical company Acino on the sale of Acino to ADQ, one of the Middle East’s largest holding companies, with a broad portfolio of major enterprises, spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabi's diversified economy. The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. It is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. 

Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, Acino delivers quality pharmaceuticals to promote affordable healthcare in selected markets in the Middle East, Africa, Russia, the CIS Region, and Latin America. 

Avista Capital Partners and Nordic Capital acquired Acino in 2013, via a take-private transaction from the Swiss stock exchange (SIX: ACIN).  Since that time, both investors supported Acino’s long-term growth strategy and transformed the business to become a high-growth emerging markets-focused pharmaceuticals platform with significant market presence in the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, and South Africa. 

The Ropes & Gray team was led by private equity transactions partner Helen Croke, alongside private equity transactions associates Laura Kayani and Sam Hancock and trainee Will Radcliffe. Other members of the team included antitrust partner Ruchit Patel and associate Vincenzo Volpe, life sciences regulatory partner Lincoln Tsang and data, privacy and cybersecurity partner Rohan Massey and associate Robyn Annetts.