ECM Partners and Metric Capital Partners have signed an agreement to sell a majority stake in FAMAR, a well-established pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), to MidEuropa, a leading European private equity investor with over €6 billion of funds raised and managed throughout its 25-year history. Current shareholders will continue to remain invested in FAMAR, demonstrating their long-term commitment and confidence in FAMAR and its future potential.

FAMAR is a trusted partner to a diversified blue-chip client base of pharmaceutical companies operating in more than 80 international markets. The Company provides a full-service offering across the CDMO value-chain, with broad capabilities across multiple dosage forms including sterile, solids, semi-solids, and R&D services. FAMAR employs c.1,900 people working across a network of six manufacturing sites located across southern Europe with two complementary R&D centers.

Konstantinos Rengis, Chief Executive Officer of FAMAR, stated: "I want to thank ECM and Metric for their partnership over the past four years. Their investment, support, and guidance have been crucial in advancing FAMAR as a European CDMO leader. We are excited to partner with MidEuropa to continue expanding and make FAMAR a world-leading CDMO platform, while contributing to the health and well-being of millions of patients worldwide."

Peter Prock, Current Chairman of the Board of FAMAR, stated: “I am pleased to see FAMAR open a new chapter of its impressive growth story. I am looking forward to supporting the management team and MidEuropa in their journey to open new markets and serve its customers and wider community.”

Savvas Liasis, Chairman of the Board of ECM, stated: “When we initially entered into the ownership structure of the business in 2020, we saw in FAMAR a high-quality business with an exceptional heritage of customer service in the pharmaceutical industry. Through extensive turnaround efforts we managed to expand its offering and drive growth by increasing investment, notably in R&D capabilities. Today FAMAR is a leading CDMO with world-class capabilities and quality of service. I am confident that the Company will continue to thrive under MidEuropa’s stewardship and we look forward to continuing our support of FAMAR’s talented management in the next phase of growth.”

John Sinik, Managing Partner of Metric Capital Partners, said: “We are delighted to announce the sale of FAMAR to MidEuropa. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the management team for their remarkable achievements over the past four years, during which FAMAR has grown to become one of the leading CDMO companies in Europe. We are confident that the Company, with the support of MidEuropa, will continue driving growth and expanding into exciting new areas.”

Jefferies acted as the sole financial advisor to FAMAR, Reed Smith and Papapolitis & Papapolitis served as the sellside legal counsel on the transaction. Rothschild & Co and AXIA Ventures Group acted as M&A and Debt financial advisors to MidEuropa, with DLA Piper serving as the buyside legal counsel. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals.

ECM Partners is a leading investment firm with a strategic focus on Special Situations across the Central and Southeastern European regions with presence in Ljubljana, Nicosia, Athens and Zagreb. Since its inception in 2014, ECM has invested in excess of €920m and completed 27 transactions across multiple asset classes.

Metric Capital Partners is a leading pan-European private capital fund manager. The firm has raised in excess of €2.6bn of capital from its global investor base and operates out of six European offices. Since its inception in 2011, MCP has completed 44 investments across a variety of industries and geographies.

MidEuropa is a leading European private equity investor with deep roots in Central Europe and a track record spanning 25 years. Headquartered in London, with a presence in Warsaw and Bucharest, MidEuropa identifies winning investments across the healthcare, technology, services, and consumer sectors and supports them in their growth and international expansion. To date, MidEuropa has raised and managed funds of over €6bn and completed 45 investments and over 260 add-on acquisitions across 18 countries.