C.W. Downer & Co., a leading global middle-market investment bank, is pleased to announce that Uriach has acquired a majority stake of Laborest, S.r.l., one of Italy’s leading food supplements companies. The deal closed on October 9th, 2015, and terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"This is a very important step for the internationalization of our Consumer Health division and we are grateful to C.W. Downer & Co. for their help on this transaction," said Oriol Segarra, CEO of Uriach.

Founded more than 175 years ago in Barcelona, Spain, Uriach is one of the oldest pharmaceutical companies in Europe. Thanks to the group’s well positioned Consumer Health division, Uriach is the leading independent player in the Spanish over the counter (OTC) pharmaceuticals market, marketing household brands such as Aero-Red, Biodramina, Fisiocrem, Halibut, Innovage, Filvit, Utabon and Fave de Fuca, as well as its natural food supplements range sold under the Aquilea umbrella brand. This acquisition marks one of the Consumer Health division’s first ventures into the international market.

Laborest was founded 15 years ago in Nerviano, Italy, and is a leading Italian pharmaceutical company active in one of the most important and educated food supplements markets in Europe. A team of 150 salespeople market the company's products to physicians nationwide who in turn recommend these products to their patients. A May 2015 Nutraingredients.com article stated that eight out of ten Italians take supplements & eat functional foods, while nutritional ingredients trade group, Federsalus (www.federsalus.it), indicated that one out of three Italian specialist doctors and more than half of the general practitioners advise the use of supplements.

The transaction represents a significant step to strengthen C.W. Downer & Co.'s growing European OTC Pharma practice. "The Laborest acquisition is the result of a very comprehensive buy-side program for Uriach in which we analyzed markets in 9 different countries and presented more than 100 potential targets. We were authorized to contact 60 attractive companies and conducted 12 site visits across 3 different countries," said Guido Siebiera, Managing Director with C.W. Downer & Co. "We have very much enjoyed working alongside the business development team of Uriach and look forward to potentially assisting with additional transactions in the future."

"The Laborest acquisition is a great example of the immediate synergies one can achieve by combining the product portfolios and sales forces of two European OTC companies," added Nicholas Balk, Associate with C.W. Downer & Co.

The C.W. Downer & Co. team advising Uriach on the acquisition included Mr. Guido Siebiera, Mr. Nicholas Balk and Mr. Pietro Ceresa.

About C.W. Downer & Co.

C.W. Downer & Co. is an independent, global investment bank offering middle-market clients a high level of personal attention coupled with 40 years of international execution experience. We provide insight, not just information. We generate value, not just transactions. With nine fully integrated offices on four continents, we consistently identify the most appropriate strategic buyer and uncover “hidden” acquisition targets. C.W. Downer & Co. delivers the reach of a bulge-bracket investment bank with the senior level focus of a boutique. For more information, visit http://www.cwdowner.com.

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