Laval, 20 December 2013.

By the terms of an agreement signed today in Laval, Sogeval, a subsidiary of Sofiprotéol, joins veterinary firm Ceva Santé Animale with a view to creating one of the world leaders in veterinary pharmacy.

 

Further to exclusive negotiations, Sofiprotéol and Ceva have finalised an agreement for the acquisition of Sogeval by the Libourne-based Group, on 20 December 2013.

Sogeval thus becomes a subsidiary of Ceva Santé Animale, thereby consolidating the worldwide market presence of the new Group.

Under the agreement signed between the parties, Sogeval’s Biosecurity and Nutrition business will remain in the Sofiprotéol Group which intends to step up its activities in this area. International development of this business will be handled partly through the Ceva Group’s worldwide network, however.

 

The aim of the acquisition is very much to go on the offensive, mobilising all the staff in both companies to accelerate the growth of the new Group and achieve its worldwide ambitions.

 

Common interests…

 An operation driven by clear complementarities:

• in the “Companion Animals” sector…where each of the companies has developed specific know-how for cats and dogs:

-          antibiotherapy and dermatology at Sogeval,

-          antiparasitics and animal behaviour for Ceva

and where their common presence in segments such as cardiology or pain management will make the new group a reference.

 

• in livestock production…Ceva and Sogeval have developed expertise in antibiotherapy, vaccines and products for the control of reproduction in livestock.

• in their international presence... Ceva and Sogeval will pool their respective distribution networks and subsidiaries to boost positions on all their markets.

  

…and respect for people 

• Continuity in company management…

 José Daoudal, currently Sogeval CEO, will remain Deputy Managing Director of the Animal Division at Sofiprotéol and Chairman of Sogeval within the Ceva Group. One of his missions will be to foster partnerships between Sofiprotéol and Ceva, in particular in Research & Development and ensure the proper integration of Sogeval within the group.

 

• … and a merger that is already operational 

The companies’ close complementarity and shared values have considerably facilitated relations between their teams, meaning that they will be operational and in fighting order right from the start of 2014, at the service of their clients.

                                                                                                                                                  

 

Sofiprotéol will retain a presence in the animal health sector

Sofiprotéol may participate in the future pool and become a minority investor in the new group as part of the upcoming LBO in which Ceva management – the Group’s majority shareholders – will choose their new financial partners.

Such a stake would be an opportunity for Sofiprotéol to support the management of Ceva while maintaining a foothold in the animal health sector.

 

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About Ceva Santé Animale:

Ceva Santé Animale was founded in 1999 and is the world’s 9^th-largest veterinary health company, focused on research, development, production and marketing of pharmaceutical products and vaccines for companion animals, livestock, swine and poultry. Thanks to its international presence, its 2012 sales exceeded €600 million. Today, it employs 3,000 people around the world, including 800 in France. Its headquarters are in Libourne (Gironde).

Ceva Chairman and CEO is Marc Prikazsky.

Website: www.ceva.com

 

About Sogeval:

Sogeval is a French veterinary pharmaceutical company based in Laval (Mayenne) and a subsidiary of Sofiprotéol. It was created in 1978 and develops, manufactures and markets veterinary products under its own name and for other companies. Its 2012 sales figure was €82.6 million.

Based in the heart of Europe’s biggest agrifood region, Sogeval has grown steadily to become a major player today in the prevention and treatment of animal pathologies.

Sogeval currently employs 291 people, of whom 236 in France. It is chaired by José Daoudal.

Website: www.sogeval.fr

 

About Sofiprotéol:

Sofiprotéol is an industrial and financial company in the oilseed and proteins sector. Its purpose is to create sustainable value in the oilseed and protein sectors, making a contribution to a better diet for human beings and to protecting the planet. The agribusiness activities of Sofiprotéol are organised in two divisions: the Oilseed Division (crushing and oil refining, oil refining and packaging for food, production of biodiesel, oleochemistry) and the Animal Division, with Glon Sanders (animal nutrition, slaughter and transformation of pig meat and poultry, eggs and finished products). The company also has financial activities as a development bank: in 2012, it provided support via loans and acquisitions of minority stakes in no fewer than 140 companies in the sector, and in agribusiness more generally.

Sofiprotéol recorded 2012 sales of €7.3 billion, of which 21% abroad, and has 8,372 staff in 22 countries. Sofiprotéol is present in particular in Morocco, with Lesieur Cristal, number one in food oil. Website: www.sofiproteol.com.

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