Grifols AS Plans to Sell Stake in Shanghai RAAS Blood Products Co., Ltd for Up to $1.5 Billion

Spain-based Grifols AS (NASDAQ: GRFS), a leading global player in the blood products industry, has announced its intention to sell a portion of its stake in China-based Shanghai RAAS Blood Products Co., Ltd (SHE: 002252). This strategic move is expected to yield up to USD 1.5 billion for Grifols AS, allowing the company to maintain a significant shareholding position in the Shanghai-based firm. The potential buyer and other deal specifics have not been disclosed at this time.

Historical Alliance and Strategic Partnership
Grifols and RAAS first formed an alliance in 2019, with Grifols investing USD 1.9 billion to secure a 26.2% stake in RAAS, making it the largest single shareholder in the company. This investment also granted Grifols three board seats at RAAS. As part of the alliance, RAAS serves as Grifols’ exclusive distributor in China for plasma-derived products, particularly albumin, and transfusional diagnostic solutions, capitalizing on its extensive plasma collection network.

Financial Considerations Amidst Growth
Despite China being a key growth driver for Grifols, with a high single-digit growth rate in sales reported in Q1 2023, the decision to sell a portion of the stake may have been influenced by the company’s need to reduce its debts. Grifols has been actively discussing debt reduction strategies for several quarters, with the sale of part or all of its Shanghai RAAS stake being a previously considered option. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Grifols’ plasma-collection capabilities, resulting in a debt load of EUR 9.3 billion by Q1 2023, seven times the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA). The company has set a target to reduce its debts to a ratio of 4-to-1 versus EBITDA by 2024.-Fineline Info & Tech

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