PRESS RELEASE
Hikma entering Ethiopian pharmaceutical market through a joint venture with MIDROC Group
London, 18 September 2013 - Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC ("Hikma") (LSE: HIK) (NASDAQ Dubai: HIK) (OTC: HKMPY), the fast growing multinational pharmaceutical group, today announces that it has signed a 50:50 joint venture ("JV") agreement with MIDROC Pharmaceuticals Limited, a member of Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi's MIDROC Group ("MIDROC"), to establish a presence in the Ethiopian pharmaceutical market. The JV will be called HikmaCure.
Commenting on the transaction, Said Darwazah, CEO of Hikma said, "I am extremely pleased to be partnering with MIDROC to bring high quality, affordable medicines to the Ethiopian market. Expanding our presence into sub-Saharan Africa is a key strategic priority for Hikma and this is an excellent first step. We believe Ethiopia offers strong growth potential in the medium to long term and our investment at this stage will enable us to be well positioned in the market. We will continue to explore opportunities to build our presence in the sub-Saharan region."
Ethiopia has a population of 94 million people, 64% of whom are under 25 years old. The Ethiopian pharmaceutical market is valued at over US$500 million. It is growing at a compound annual rate of around 15% and is expected to reach approximately US$1 billion in 2018, driven by increasing investment in healthcare infrastructure and improved purchasing power of patients. Currently the market is highly dependent on imports, which account for around 75% of the total pharmaceutical market.
Over the next five years, HikmaCure will establish an Ethiopian operating company, build a local manufacturing facility and will begin marketing and distributing pharmaceutical products in Ethiopia. In the short term, MIDROC will work with Hikma and HikmaCure to register, market and distribute Hikma's products in the Ethiopian market.
Hikma and MIDROC will invest in HikmaCure in equal proportions and have committed to provide up to $22.3 million each in cash. The funds will be invested over time and will be used to build and fit-out a local manufacturing and distribution facility in Ethiopia and to provide working capital support for the operations of HikmaCure. The facility is expected to begin commercial production in 2017.
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Enquiries
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC
Susan Ringdal, VP Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations +44 (0)20 7399 2760/ 07776 477 050
Lucinda Henderson, Investor Relations Manager +44 (0)20 7399 2765/ 07818 060 211
FTI Consulting
Ben Atwell /Julia Phillips/Matthew Cole +44 (0)20 7831 3113
About Hikma
Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC is a fast growing multinational pharmaceutical group focused on developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad range of both branded and non-branded generic and in-licensed products. Hikma's operations are conducted through three businesses: "Branded", "Injectables" and "Generics" based principally in the Middle East and North Africa ("MENA") region, where it is a market leader, the United States and Europe. In 2012, Hikma achieved revenues of $1,108.7 million and profit attributable to shareholders of $100.3 million.
About MIDROC
The MIDROC International Group of Companies is owned by global businessman, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi and consists of more than 100 companies operating in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. MIDROC is particularly active in Ethiopia, with interests in property, steel, construction, cement, air transport, manufacturing, mining, agriculture and the Sheraton Addis hotel. MIDROC undertakes major projects that are not only commercial but have overseas development and humanitarian aspects.
