OC assists Grifols with 25 plasma centres acquisition for $370m

Osborne Clarke has counselled Grifols on the acquisition of 25 US-based plasma centres from BPL for $370 million

Grifols, a Barcelona-based global leader in the development of plasma-derived therapies dedicated for more than 100 years to enhancing people’s health and well-being, has finalised a $370 million transaction to acquire 25 U.S.-based plasma donation centres from BPL Plasma Inc., a subsidiary of Bio Products Laboratory Holdings Limited. The transaction has received the applicable regulatory clearances and will be financed with Grifols’ own resources without issuing debt.

In accordance with the company’s strategic plan to advance its plasma-collection leadership, this transaction expands, reinforces and diversifies Grifols’ already-robust network of centres and capacity to supply life-enhancing plasma-derived medicines to patients. In parallel, the transaction also builds on its network of plasma centres, which represents an important competitive advantage. Grifols remains committed to increasing the availability of its essential plasma-derived products to meet growing demand.

Grifols was able to limit its net plasma supply impact by roughly 15% in 2020 despite COVID-19-related constraints. In 2021, the company is ready for a rebound in its plasma-collection levels in the wake of wider vaccination deployments and the ease of COVID-19 constraints. Grifols is also advancing on the execution of its expansion plan, comprising organic and inorganic growth.

Grifols now operates 344 plasma centres worldwide: 289 in the U.S. and 55 in Europe across Germany, Austria and, recently Hungary. The 25 centres acquired from BPL are authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

This acquisition follows that of a plasma fractionation plant in Canada and 11 plasma centres in the US for €460 million, announced by Iberian Lawyer in October 2020, and also advised by Osborne Clarke.

Osborne Clarke’s team was led for this transaction by partners Tomas Dagá (pictured left), Oscar Calsamiglia (pictured centre), together with lawyer Laura de la Cruz (pictured right).