BC PARTNERS takes majority stake in Synthon International

In July 2019, funds advised by BC Partners agreed to purchase an 80% controlling equity interest in Synthon International Holding B.V. through a corporate carve-out from parent group Synthon Holding B.V., with founding shareholder Dr. Jacques Lemmens rolling over equity into the new holding structure. The target business was generating annual revenue of €268M based on its 2018 financial year results. The acquired operational perimeter encompassed roughly 1,600 employees across nine sites worldwide, anchored by four specialized laboratories and production units that served over 200 corporate clients with pharmaceutical dossiers registered across 100 jurisdictions. Drawing on operational practices developed through past pharmaceutical investments such as Aenova and Pharmathen, the private equity firm used its portfolio team to upgrade manufacturing capacity and expand commercial channels into the United States and the Middle East. Management under chief executive Edwin de Rooij was reorganized through the appointments of an independent board chairman, a chief commercial officer, and a chief operating officer. On the regulatory front, the research group secured a single first-to-file generic approval from the US FDA for the oncology treatment Palbociclib.