GOLDMAN SACHS takes majority stake in Synthon International
Context
Controlled by BC Partners since 2019, Synthon International Holding B.V. entered into a sale agreement on December 16, 2024 under which the private equity business of Goldman Sachs Alternatives will acquire majority control. The vendor is reinvesting proceeds to retain a minority shareholding in the business alongside incumbent executive managers. For the 2024 financial year, the pharmaceutical platform reported adjusted EBITDA of €125M, representing of margin. Across five years of sponsor ownership alongside chief executive Anish Mehta, the company expanded its manufacturing base and launched several generic treatments, including Axitinib and Eltrombopag in Europe as well as Glatiramer in the United States. The capital structure arranged for the buyout includes an equity contribution, a €775 million senior secured Term Loan B, and a €120 million revolving credit facility, arranged to refinance an existing €260 million debt facility and cover transaction expenses. Expected to close in the second quarter of 2025 subject to regulatory clearances, the transaction involves advisory mandates for Rothschild & Co, Barclays, Latham & Watkins, and PwC on the sell-side, with Goldman Sachs International, Jefferies, White & Case, Deloitte, A&O Shearman, and Sullivan & Cromwell advising the purchaser.
It is worth noting that the fund Bc Partners took control of Synthon International through an LBO in 2019.
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Target
Synthon International Holding B.V., founded in 1991 by Dr. Jacques Lemmens and headquartered in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, is dedicated to the formulation research, clinical development, and chemical synthesis of small-molecule generic drugs and complex hybrid treatments. Synthon monetizes its proprietary portfolio through commercial out-licensing agreements, long-term supply arrangements, and co-distribution partnerships negotiated with global pharmaceutical corporations, complemented by direct commercial operations across designated regional territories. Its organizational structure covers the full pharmaceutical development cycle, encompassing chemical synthesis, bioequivalence studies, regulatory filing execution across health agencies, and commercial drug production handled directly within proprietary laboratories and production units. The company focuses on the scalable supply of affordable, scientifically demanding medicines to alleviate healthcare procurement burdens across diversified global therapeutic segments.
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FREE VIEWOther operations with Synthon International
| Date | Acquirer | Target | Country | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/2019 | BC PARTNERS | Synthon International | NETHERLANDS | Generics / Labs |
REFERENCES
Valuation range: EV 1b - 4b EUR
Revenue range: 250M - 500M EUR
EBITDA range: 100M - 200M EUR
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Authors: This transaction was contributed by a verified mynth contributor and cross-checked against available transaction documents and official company communications.
Target: synthon international
Acquirer: goldman sachs