EKUITI Nasional Bhd makes maiden investment into the pharmaceutical industry by acquiring a controlling stake in Medispec (M) Sdn Bhd, a leading local pharmaceutical and supplement product distributor based on an enterprise value of RM88.5 mil.
Medispec markets more than 100 pharmaceutical drugs and 30 health supplements under both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) categories.
These include medical application covering various therapeutic areas such as anti-infectives, antineoplastic, musculo-skeletal system, cardiovascular system and nervous system.
Additionally, the company also owns Vitamode, an award-winning in-house health supplement brand which features specialty products such as CoQ10 Ubiquinol, Mecobin, Lacidofil, Cognipro and Tumecap.
“Ekuinas’ entry into the healthcare and pharmaceutical space is timely as we look to capitalise on global megatrends and demographic shifts amid the emergence of COVID-19,” Ekuinas CEO Syed Yasir Arafat Syed Abd Kadir pointed out.
“Medispec is one of the leading distributors and marketers of healthcare and pharmaceutical products in Malaysia with a track record of over 35 years.”
The entry of the government-linked private equity fund management company’s into the pharmaceutical industry is highly cognisant of the macro themes at play.
In line with growing healthcare awareness amongst consumers, Ekuinas expects the post-pandemic world to see a significant shift from remedial to preventive healthcare measures.
“It (Medispec) has established a strong supply chain and distribution network in the local market, driven by their deep industry knowledge and strong relationship with principals,” noted Syed Yasir. “We are happy to be part of next phase of its journey.”
To date, Ekuinas has undertaken cumulative investments in 42 companies since its inception in 2009, representing a total committed investment of RM4.4 bil.
With that, it has also generated a positive impact on the broader Malaysian economy which facilitated a total economic deployment of RM5 bil together with its private sector partners. – Feb 3, 2021
