Vectura Fertin Pharma, an affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI), has announced the sale of its subsidiary Vectura Group to global electronics
major Molex Asia Holdings for £298 million.
Vectura, based in Chippenham, UK, will be operated by Phillips Medisize, a Molex company and a leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of
pharmaceutical drug delivery, in vitro diagnostic and medtech devices.
PMI, which acquired Vectura in 2021 amid strident opposition from health groups, has also announced the establishment of master service agreements to develop
Vectura Fertin Pharma’s inhaled therapeutics proprietary pipeline.
The tobacco giant created Vectura Fertin Pharma as an autonomous unit, bringing together Vectura and Danish company Fertin Pharma, which it acquired in 2020, as
part of its plan to go ‘smoke-free’ and switch to healthcare and wellness products.
PMI, which fought off private equity firm Carlyle Group for the roughly 1-billion-pound buyout of Vectura, would receive an upfront cash consideration of
£150 million, subject to customary purchase price adjustments, and potential deferred payments of up to £148 million.