PGF to close Apteki Polskie deal today despite NIA protests

PGF, the country's biggest publicly-listed drug wholesaler, together with the Enterprise Investors fund, will today finalize the purchase of Apteki Polskie, a listed drug wholesaler that operates 103 pharmacies under the Apteka 21 brand. The transaction was approved by the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) despite meeting opposition from the Central Pharmaceutical Chamber (NIA), which stated that the acquisition of 103 pharmacies by PGF breaches the pharmaceutical law, according to which one owner can only own 1% of pharmacies in a given voivodship. After paying zł.18.8 million for Apteki Polskie, PGF will command a network of around 300 pharmacies. (Puls Biznesu, p. 5) D.W.