UDG Healthcare plc, formerly United Drug, is a Dublin-based international company and partner to the healthcare industry, providing clinical, commercial, communication and packaging services. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange until it was acquired by American private equity company Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in August 2021.

UDG Healthcare plc
IndustryPharmaceutical
Founded1948 (1948)
HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
Key people
Peter Gray, Chairman
Brendan McAtamney, CEO[1]
RevenueDecrease 1,279.2 million (2020)[2]
Increase 130.9 million (2020)[2]
Increase 92.8 million (2020)[2]
Number of employees
9,000 (2021)[3]
ParentClayton, Dubilier & Rice
Websitewww.udghealthcare.com

History

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The company was established in Ballina in County Mayo as The United Drug Chemical Company, a co-operative controlled by Irish pharmacists, in 1948.[4] UDG bought Leicestershire-based Ashfield Healthcare for £16.5 million in 2000.[5]

In January 2007, the company acquired Presearch, a UK laboratory services company, for GBP £2.9 million.[6] It acquired Pharmexx, a Frankfurt-based business, in July 2012.[7] In September 2012 it decided to move its primary listing from Irish Stock Exchange to the London Stock Exchange.[8] It changed its name from United Drug to UDG Healthcare in October 2013.[9] In February 2014, the company made its largest acquisition when it bought KnowledgePoint360 which specializes in healthcare communications for €105 million and made it part of its Ashfield division.[10][11]

In September 2015, UDG Healthcare sold its Irish drug distribution businesses to McKesson Corporation for $466 million.[12] In May 2016 UDG Healthcare acquired Pegasus, an integrated healthcare communications consultancy.[13] In October 2016 the company acquired STEM Marketing, a provider of commercial, marketing and medical audits to pharmaceutical companies.[14] In July 2017, the company acquired Vynamic; later in the same month it acquired Cambridge BioMarketing for up to $35 million.[15] In August 2018, UDG Healthcare announced the sale of its Aquilant division to H2 Equity Partners, a European private equity firm, for a total potential net consideration of up to €23 million (approximately $27 million).[16]

The company agreed to be acquired by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in a £2.8 billion transaction in June 2021.[17]

Operations

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UDG Healthcare plc operates across two divisions: Ashfield and Sharp.[18]

References

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  1. ^ Michael Cogley (3 February 2016). "UDG boss Fitzgerald steps down from €2.5m-a-year role". Independent.ie. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "Annual Report 2020" (PDF). UDG Healthcare. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  3. ^ "At a glance". UDG Healthcare. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Interview: Brendan McAtamney – CEO, UDG Healthcare, Ireland". Pharma Boardroom. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  5. ^ "United Drug buys Ashfield Healthcare". The Irish Times. 9 May 2000. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  6. ^ "United Drug buy UK lab distributor for £2.9m". RTÉ News. 26 January 2007.
  7. ^ United Drug snaps up Pharmexx Irish Times, 26 July 2012
  8. ^ United Drug set to shift to LSE FT, 5 September 2012
  9. ^ United Drug: Yes to name change Irish Examiner, 10 August 2013
  10. ^ UPDATE 2-UDG raises earnings growth forecast, sees deal paying off, Reuters.com (14 May 2014)
  11. ^ UDG Healthcare invests €105m to expand communications unit The Irish Times, 27 February 2014
  12. ^ Roshni Menon (18 September 2015). "UDG Healthcare to sell two units to McKesson for $466 million". Reuters.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  13. ^ "Healthcare Group UDG buys UK's second largest PR firm Pegasus for £16.8 million". 19 May 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  14. ^ "UDG Healthcare acquires STEM Marketing for £84m". PM Live. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Rare disease agency Cambridge Bio goes global with $35M buyout by Irish UDG - FiercePharma". www.FiercePharma.com. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  16. ^ "UDG Healthcare sells non-core Aquilant division and reviews Ashfield business". 8 August 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  17. ^ "UDG Healthcare accepts higher £2.8bn takeover bid". The Independent. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Sharp Packaging Services, a division of UDG Healthcare plc, announces capacity expansion in the US and UK". FT. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
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