Economic and Financial News > Faes Farma Acquires SIFI: A Transformational Step Aligned With 2030 Ambitions and Strategy

Faes Farma Acquires SIFI: A Transformational Step Aligned With 2030 Ambitions and Strategy

June 10th, 2025
Download press release
  • This acquisition consolidates Faes Farma as a leader in ophthalmology, incorporating a broad portfolio in this key therapeutic area.
  • It enhances the Group’s international expansion, facilitating direct entry into new European markets.
  • Faes Farma incorporates Akantior, a recently EMA-approved product for treating ultra-rare diseases with significant potential in the US.

Bilbao, June 10th, 2025.– Faes Farma, S.A. has signed a purchase agreement, subject to conditions precedent, to acquire 100% of SIFI S.p.A (“SIFI”), an Italian pharmaceutical company specializing in ophthalmology for €270 million enterprise value.

The integration of SIFI, alongside Edol, a leading Portuguese laboratory recently acquired by Faes Farma, positions ophthalmology as a pivotal area for the Group. With these two acquisitions, the ophthalmology segment represents approximately 20% of the Group’s total portfolio pro-forma revenue.

“The acquisition of SIFI represents a transformational step in our 2030 ambition and strategy. It strengthens our position in ophthalmology, a therapeutic area with significant growth potential, and accelerates our international expansion with direct access to new markets in Europe. This milestone demonstrates our commitment to building a stronger, more global and innovative Faes Farma, offering a broader range of solutions aligned with the needs of professionals and patients.“, stated Eduardo Recoder de la Cuadra, CEO of Faes Farma.

“This transaction represents a strategic milestone that validates the strength of our business model, and the potential that lies ahead. SIFI has a strong track record of bringing innovative treatments for ophthalmic patients since its foundation. We are confident that the partnership with Faes Farma, a company with similar values and culture to ours, will accelerate growth, unlock synergies, and enhance long-term value for all stakeholders, first and foremost by expanding global access to the medicines and devices we provide for ophthalmic patients.”, stated Fabrizio Chines, CEO of SIFI.

This transaction strengthens Faes Farma’s market position and offers significant synergy opportunities. SIFI facilitates entry into new high-growth regions in Europe where they are present, such as Italy, France, Romania, and Turkey, while bolstering Faes Farma’s presence in others, such as Spain and Mexico. Furthermore, product integration should unlock cross-selling opportunities, improving growth and margins through operational and cost efficiencies.

The transaction gives Faes Farma access to SIFI’s three businesses: 1) Consolidated ophthalmic pharmaceutical business 2) Contract manufacturing unit (CMO) 3) Akantior, an innovative therapy product for ultra-rare diseases recently approved in Europe (2024).

Leading Position in Ophthalmology

SIFI, with more than 90 years of history, boasts a consolidated ophthalmology business, present in more than 60 countries, with core business revenue in 2024 exceeding €100 million and EBITDA of €20 million, excluding sales that will be derived from the recently signed CMO contracts and the launch of Akantior in Europe (first in Germany since October 2024).

SIFI’s portfolio of over 60 ophthalmic solutions and five recent launches expands Faes Farma’s therapeutic offering and geographic reach complementing Laboratorios Edol portfolio. SIFI also manufactures and markets innovative intraocular lenses in Europe and Asia, allowing Faes Farma to enter the ophthalmic surgery market, expanding its product range and generating new revenue streams.

The acquisition also allows for the integration of SIFI’s Third-Party Manufacturing Unit (CMO), which has its own state-of-the-art plant in Italy specializing in the production of ophthalmic medications. SIFI has recently secured contracts with leading international pharmaceutical companies to produce large volumes of products that guarantee recurring revenues of approximately €20 million annually in the medium term. This segment offers Faes Farma the opportunity to leverage SIFI’s manufacturing capacity to achieve cost efficiencies and potentially expand into new markets.

Akantior: A Promising Drug For Ultra-Rare Diseases

SIFI’s operation enables entry into a very promising strategic market segment of rare disease treatment. Akantior is approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK) in adults and children aged 12 and older. Akantior is the first and only approved therapy for AK anywhere in the world, addressing an ultra-rare, severe, and progressive corneal infection affecting approximately 3,000 patients annually in Europe and the United States.

Launched in Germany in October 2024, plans are underway to expand to other European countries. It is also in the pre-registration phase with the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) with orphan drug designation.

Ultimately, this acquisition strengthens Faes Farma’s leadership in ophthalmology, accelerates its international presence, and positions the Group as one of the most important players in the specialized eye disease treatment globally.

Financial Impact

  • The transaction values SIFI at €270 million upfront Enterprise Value plus earn outs related to Akantior linked to certain sales levels in Europe that exceed forecasts. The maximum total amount of the earn-outs would be €50.5 million spread over six milestones/payments until 2041. In addition, there is a potential payment of €30 million conditional on the commercial launch of Akantior in the US plus one digit to low two-digit tiered payments on US net sales following until the expiration of the patent in the US, or US loss of exclusivity.
  • Immediate addition of a business generating significant revenue and EBITDA, projecting accelerated margin growth in the short and medium term through international expansion, CMO project execution and Akantior sales in Europe​.
  • EV/EBITDA is projected to be single digit when factoring in SIFI’s significant near-term growth potential initiatives (signed CMO contracts and launch of Akantior in Europe in particular) and will progressively decrease as synergies realize.
  • SIFI acquisition expected to be EPS accretive from year one, even before commercial and cost synergies.
  • Faes Farma has secured committed debt financing from J.P. Morgan SE to fund the acquisition. Net Debt/Pro-Forma EBITDA ratio will remain below 2x.
  • Dividend for 2024 remains unaffected, adhering to 50% pay-out policy going forward.

Closing Conditions

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, subject to approval by competition and foreign investment authorities in the various countries and Faes Farma’s extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, which will be convened in the coming days.

Advisors

J.P. Morgan SE (“JPM”) is acting as Faes Farma’s exclusive financial advisor and debt financing provider in connection with the transaction. Cuatrecasas Legal SLP (“Cuatrecasas”) and Chiomenti Studio Legale (“Chiomenti”) serve as legal advisor and Ernst & Young Servicios Corporativos S.L. (“EY”), Gide Loyrette Nouel (“Gide”), Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwälte GmbH & Co KG (“Wolf Theiss”) and A.T. Kearney as due diligence providers for Faes Farma.

Evercore Partners International LLP (“Evercore”) and Mediobanca – Banca di Credito Finanziario S.p.A. (“Mediobanca”) are acting as exclusive financial advisor to SIFI’s shareholders (founding families and 21 Invest SGR S.p.A. on behalf of managed fund 21 Investimenti III (“21 Invest”)). Hogan Lovells Studio Legale (“Hogan Lovells”) is acting as legal advisor.

Conference Call

The conference held for investors and analysts on 11 June explaining the details of the transaction is available (upon registration) at the following link: https://streamstudio.world-television.com/1506-2832-41780/en