PRESS: Russia’s Pharmacy Chain 36.6 mulls merger with Rosta Group

MOSCOW, Aug 15 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Pharmacy Chain 36.6 is in negotiations to unite its assets with the ones of pharmaceutical Rosta Group, business daily Vedomosti reported Monday citing sources close to the shareholders of Pharmacy Chain 36.6 and to Rosta’s executives.

The shareholders of Pharmacy Chain 36.6 and Rosta Group were meeting earlier in order to agree on restructuring of the debt of the pharmacy chain to Rosta Group and on further cooperation, co-owner of Pharmacy Chain 36.6 Ivan Saganelidze told the daily, as cited by his spokesman.

Now, according to the sources, the companies are considering either a merger, or a purchase of the assets and the decision has not been made. One of the sources said that all assets will be encompassed by a deal if it takes place.

Rosta Group is a pharmaceutical distributor, owning stores under the brands of Raduga, Pervaya Pomoshch and Ladushka, and also a pharmaceuticals producer with one facility.

A merged Pharmacy Chain 36.6 and Rosta Group would own 2,800 pharmacies and have a 6.5% share on the Russian market, CEO of IMS Health Russia and the CIS Nikolai Demidov said.

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