GSK among others mulling upto $4-bn bid for Brazilian drugmaker Ache Laboratorios

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is among several other groups exploring a potential bid for Ache Laboratorios Farmaceuticos, one of Brazil's biggest drugmakers, Reuters yesterday reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

A sale of privately-held Ache Laboratorios, controlled by the Dellape Baptista, Siaulys and Depieri families, could fetch $3-4 billion, or even more if competition is keen, the report said.

But the potential sale has already run into problems with disputes among the stakeholders.

The Baptista and Siaulys families are keen to divest their stake and have hired investment bank Lazard to evaluate a potential sale, while the Depieri family plans to hold on to its stake and is looking for local partners to buy out the holdings of the Baptista and Siaulys families.

The Depieri family is reported to have hired BTG Pactual to develop a new business plan for the company.

Founded in 1966, Aché Laboratorios has two industrial complexes, one in its headquarters in São Paulo and another one in the district of Jurubatuba.