MBK Partners joins battle to acquire Japan’s healthcare firm Alinamin Pharm

[Courtesy of Alinamin Pharmaceutical]

In a high-stakes acquisition battle, global private equity funds including CVC Capital, EQT Partners, and MBK Partners are vying to acquire Japan’s healthcare company, Alinamin Pharmaceutical, known for its fatigue relievers and vitamins.

According to sources on Thursday, Blackstone held a preliminary bidding process for the sale of Alinamin Pharmaceutical earlier this month. The auction attracted significant interest from major private equity players such as CVC Capital, EQT Partners, and MBK Partners. Alinamin Pharmaceutical’s corporate value is estimated at about 300 billion yen ($1.87 billion).

Alinamin Pharmaceutical, formerly Takeda Consumer Healthcare, was rebranded following its acquisition by Blackstone in 2021 for 242 billion yen. The company is widely recognized for its ‘Alinamin’ vitamin products, sold in South Korea under the brand name ‘Actinium.’

Should MBK Partners succeed in acquiring Alinamin Pharmaceutical, it would mark their second multi-trillion won deal with Blackstone, following its acquisition of a 77 percent stake in South Korean pharmaceutical distributor Geo-Young in April. This move aligns with MBK Partners’ strategy to expand its healthcare portfolio.