IFBC receives “Most active member” award

The takeover of VITARIS AG (VITARIS) by CHROMOS Group AG (CHROMOS Group) creates a group of companies with exciting development opportunities in the life sciences sector, which can invest in strategic business areas and geographical growth. The common set of values is of great importance for employees, customers and suppliers in terms of continuity.

IFBC supported the founder and owner of VITARIS, as exclusive financial advisor, in developing strategic options for the future of his company. In dialogue, a long-term solution was developed and implemented together. During the sales process, IFBC looked for the ideal buyer as an M&A advisor, developed the transaction structure and supported contract and purchase price negotiations.

Marius Kleger will remain CEO of VITARIS and will strategically develop the company on the Board of Directors of the CHROMOS Group together with new owners Daniel and Christian Broglie. In the following interview, he gives an insight into the ambitions.

What does “A Difference in Life Sciences” mean to you?

VITARIS has been guided by the motto “A Difference in Life Sciences” since 2003. Things are the same and become interchangeable over time. We differentiate ourselves in the market through an exclusive selection of brands combined with a high level of service expertise and thus meet the expectations of our customers. In principle, we offer holistic solutions. In this way, we create sustainable and good relationships with our customers and employees. Our niche strategy in retail has been successful for 20 years.

What trends do you see in the healthcare sector in the coming years?

Healthcare and the research landscape will pick up steam in the future because a great deal of public and private investment is being made in this area. Natural growth will certainly increase over the next few years and will shape the whole of Switzerland. Around 40% of Swiss exports go through the life sciences sector. VITARIS is not engaged in development and production, but engages in trade and provides services. On the one hand, there is a great deal of potential in cell cultivation. On the other hand, we can also get involved in markets such as the beverage & food industry and the local microbiology quality control laboratories.

What will change for you after joining the CHROMOS Group?

Even after the merger, the focus is on the existing business — so little has changed. However, there are mutual efforts to get to know each other closer and better. Further opportunities and synergies are now being explored and a new chapter in success story is being written. In the life sciences sector, for example, monotonous and repetitive work will be carried out more and more by cobots (collaborative robots) in the future. I also see new opportunities for VITARIS to tailor its range of services together with the CHROMOS Group. The topic of automation will be very important to us in the future.

How did the motivation to set the course for the future arise?

As a growth-oriented entrepreneur, I regularly ask myself about options for further development. In addition, it is not only my responsibility, but also my aim to give the team a perspective. Knowing that the expectations of stakeholders are constantly increasing, I looked for opportunities to exploit synergies and enter new business areas. This was the main motivation to put VITARIS in new hands.

What is the role of employees in this process?

Employees play a central role at VITARIS. In specialist retailers, the team's cooperation shows how good the company really is. Although I am the owner of the company, committed employees ultimately achieve extraordinary results and create satisfied customers. For this reason, step-by-step integration took place internally, which was successfully implemented together with IFBC. Employees are convinced of the new solution and are looking positively to the future.

What were the key experiences when looking for a buyer?

With an attractive success story, an experienced team and my personal commitment, the starting position was very good. However, it was a question of making a complex decision for the future. Financial investors and strategic investors were initially considered. In terms of sustainability, stability and prospects, I then preferred working with a strategic investor. When creating the “shortlist”, the business models and mutual strategic understanding were examined in detail. The common set of values in terms of culture, quality and entrepreneurship was decisive. The CHROMOS Group met all important points for me and is the perfect “match”. This comes with a big thank you on my part to everyone involved. Several parties have evaluated each other, which naturally takes a lot of time and causes great emotions. IFBC brought an objective perspective, asked the right questions and successfully performed the role of mediator.

What challenges did you face during the transaction?

I think we had to overcome the “normal” challenges. There were no extraordinary problems or setbacks. This is largely due to IFBC's excellent preparatory work and professional approach. Personally, I was challenged by the transaction and operational business at the same time, which entailed a huge double burden. Accordingly, external support paid off in absolute terms. These six months were a very instructive and intensive time for me.

What added value did the collaboration and dialogue with IFBC have for you?

I met IFBC at a board seminar, where I was able to get an idea of their expertise in the area of M&A. The cooperation throughout the sales process was characterized by great transparency and mutual trust. In particular, I really appreciated the development of strategic options for VITARIS's future. The preparation of the information memorandum was very good and appealing, which aroused interest among potential buyers. The team developed a long-term solution and provided support through an objective and effective dialogue. A holistic approach and sensitivity made it possible to involve all stakeholders during contract and purchase price negotiations. The effective added value of IFBC was that VITARIS and the CHROMOS Group found the perfect “match” so that all concerns were finally taken into account and all parties involved were satisfied.