Pinsent Masons advises Sandoz on acquisition of remaining shares in Rowex Joint Venture

Sandoz is the world’s largest generics and biosimilars company, headquartered in Basel Switzerland, and reaches 500 million patients a year globally. Rowex, based in Bantry, Co. Cork, is one of Ireland’s leading providers of generic and OTC medicines, supplying the Irish market with high-quality, branded generic pharmaceuticals. The acquisition builds on a successful 30-year joint venture in Ireland with Rowa Pharmaceuticals and results in Sandoz’s full expansion into the market as a wholly owned business in Ireland.

Led by Dublin based corporate partner Neil Keenan, London based IP Partner Gina Bicknell and Dublin based corporate senior associate Dorian Rees, the multidisciplinary Pinsent Masons team provided advice to Sandoz on corporate, employment, tax, regulatory, competition, property, data protection and intellectual property law matters and on tax aspects.

Commenting on the deal, Neil Keenan said:

“This is a significant strategic acquisition in the Irish healthcare market for our long standing client Sandoz on foot of its successful 30-year joint venture with Rowa. Sandoz has ambitious plans to grow the Rowex business and arising from this transaction our client sees a huge opportunity for the Irish healthcare system to have better access to more affordable medicines improving patient health in the Irish healthcare system.