Corporate

Merz and SHOFU Enter Agreement Regarding Sale of Merz Dental

Frankfurt am Main/Kyoto,January 6, 2015

Merz Pharma has entered an agreement to sell Merz Dental to the Japanese dental materials and equipment manufacturer SHOFU. This divestiture will enable Merz Pharma to focus on its core business…

Merz Pharma and SHOFU yesterday entered a sale and purchase agreement for Merz Dental, an entity based in Lütjenburg, near Kiel in Northern Germany. With a workforce of slightly under 200, the Merz subsidiary is a supplier to dentists and dental technicians that has earned a reputation for innovative dental prosthetics.

“We are convinced that the sale to SHOFU is the right move from the standpoint of Merz Dental’s long-term development and expansion. This deal also reflects our clear focussing of our activities in the areas of Aesthetics, Neurotoxins and regional products,” says Philip Burchard, the CEO of Merz Pharma.

In German-speaking countries, Merz Dental is one of the market leaders in its business. By partnering with such a strong dental manufacturer as SHOFU, Merz Dental can now expand its presence abroad and tap into additional opportunities.

SHOFU was founded in 1922 in Kyoto. Listed on the Tokyo stock exchange, the company offers a complete range of products to dentists and dental technicians the world over, and has locations in the U.S., Germany, England, Singapore, and China. Its German facilities were opened in 1978 in Ratingen, near Düsseldorf.

SHOFU aims to leverage this acquisition to strengthen its German market presence. To achieve that, the company considers it important to maintain and heighten the autonomy of Merz Dental. The head office will be kept in Lütjenburg, and Friedhelm Klingenburg will be staying on as CEO.

About the Merz Pharma Group

Merz is a privately held pharmaceutical company based in Frankfurt, Germany with own branches in various European countries as well as the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Asia Pacific. The company is active in research, development and distribution of innovative products in the areas of aesthetic medicine and neurologically induced movement disorders. Merz Aesthetics offers a tailored and harmonized portfolio of products for minimally invasive treatments, including the dermal fillers Radiesse®, Belotero®, Glytone®, the neurotoxin Bocouture®/Xeomin®, as well as the NEOCUTIS line of anti-aging and post-procedure skincare products. The recent addition of Ulthera’s energy device technology complements Merz’s current offerings and expands the specialty pharmaceutical company‘s aesthetics portfolio.

For the treatment of neurologically induced movement disorders, Merz developed Xeomin®, the first botulinum toxin that is free of complex proteins.

In the consumer products segment, Merz Consumer Care is the leading provider of OTC medication, dietary supplements and skincare products in the German-speaking countries with its well-known tetesept® and Merz Spezial® brands.

By developing products that improve patients’ health and help them to live better, feel better and look better, we will continue to make significant contributions to the well-being of individuals around the world.

The Merz Pharma Group employs 2,738 people worldwide (prior year: 2,443). The Company generated revenue of EUR 994 million in fiscal year 2013/14 (prior year: EUR 980.2 million).