Permira Nears Deal for U.K. Blood Plasma Lab BPL

(Bloomberg) -- Permira is nearing a deal to buy U.K.-based blood-plasma firm Bio Products Laboratory Ltd. from China’s Creat Group Corp., according to people familiar with the matter.

The British private equity firm could announce an acquisition in the coming weeks, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. Separately, Permira is also considering investing in Italian plasma group Kedrion as part of its larger strategy for the sector, the people said.

No final decisions have been made and there’s no certainty an agreement will be reached, the people said. A representative for Permira declined to comment. Representatives for Creat and Kedrion couldn’t immediately be reached for comment outside regular business hours.

Creat has been working with Bank of America Corp. on the sale, which drew interest from a host of private equity firms including Advent International and Bain Capital, Bloomberg News reported in July.

The Chinese company owns a stake in domestic blood plasma firm Shanghai RAAS Blood Products Co. and had been growing in the market internationally through a series of overseas acquisitions that began in 2016. 

This strategy was undermined when U.S. regulators pushed against its ownership in such businesses, a sensitive area. In September, Grifols SA agreed to buy Creat’s Biotest AG for about 1.6 billion euros ($1.8 billion). 

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.