(PM) Berlin, 05.03.2012 - Since their establishment in 1991 the ERBD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) has become the largest financial investor in their region of operations which stretches from central Europe and the Western Balkans to central Asia. With the ability and willingness to bear risk on behalf of their clients, in order to help countries in the region to become open market economies. The ERBD is owned by 63 countries, the European Union and the European Investment Bank.

Now the EBRD is going to buy a minority equity stake of around 15 per cent in Russia’s OSSC. Katren is one of the three largest national pharmaceutical distributers in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. This investment will give the EBRD the right to nominate two members for election to Katren´s board of directors. It is interesting to admit that prior to
this deal, the Bank had already invested over 300 Million Euro in the pharmaceutical industry in nine of the EBRD´s 29 countries of operation.

Chameleon Pharma Consulting comments: Katren has shown a very good performance over the last years and has worked its way up from a small local pharma distributor to a leading national TOP 3 player in Russia. It seems that the company is also one of the few Russian players, who has achieved a top position in Ukraine and Kazakhstan, beside their Russian base business. In this way companies are limiting the potential because of cultural issues between the countries.