Uni-Bio Science and HeungKong Group set up diverse strategic alliance for:
– Expanding distribution network for pharmaceutical products
– Exploring setting up bio-pharmaceutical incubation centers
– Looking for international M&A projects
HONG KONG — Uni-Bio Science Group Limited (“Uni-Bio Science”, “Uni-Bio” or the “Group”; HKEx code: 690) today announced that HeungKong Great Health Fund I, led by the famed Mainland China-based corporation HeungKong Group, has invested HK$120 million in the Group and become its strategic shareholder. Uni-Bio Science and HeungKong Group also forged a strategic alliance, with the Group given access to the medical network of HeungKong Group to distribute its pharmaceutical products, and joint efforts will be made to evaluate the opportunities of setting up bio-pharmaceutical incubation centers and explore international M&A projects.
Mr. Kingsley LEUNG, Chairman and Executive Director of Uni-Bio Science, said, “The cooperation with HeungKong Group marks an important milestone in the Group’s development. We are very encouraged by HeungKong Group’s decision to invest in Uni-Bio Science because that represents their firm recognition of our business directions and prospects. We believe combining HeungKong Group’s capital strength, medical network and investment banking experience with our professionalism and vision in the bio-pharmaceutical and related areas will see us make brilliant achievements and reap tremendous synergies, which can effectively enhance both parties’ leading presence in the health and pharmaceutical industries.”
Mr. Sam Lau, Deputy Chairman of HeungKong Group and Chairman of HeungKong Financial Group Limited, said, “Uni-Bio Science’s strengths in bio-pharmaceutics and bio-technology and its international perspective are what attracted HeungKong Group and the fund founded by Futec International Group to invest in and join hands with it to tap the international pharmaceutical industry. HeungKong Group is optimistic about Uni-Bio as a bio-pharmaceutical company with foresight, and its professional and technical expertise plus experience in drug development, registration and opening market access for its products are going to be helpful to Futec International Group in assessing potential investment projects effectively. The partnership between HeungKong Healthcare and Uni-Bio is also a marriage of complementary strengths that can help bring more advanced and higher quality drugs to China, as well as enable HeungKong Group to fulfill its solemn commitment of ‘giving back to society through business excellence’.”
Partnering with quality companies to expand business has been a major corporate development strategy of Uni-Bio Science. In the past three years, the Group has built certain key partnerships conducive to product innovation, bringing in innovative pharmaceutical products and expanding its distribution channels, etc. This time, the Group will work with HeungKong Group on three major strategic areas, which are fostering expansion of the Group’s distribution platform, enhancing innovation and pursuing overseas M&A, that fully agree with the Group’s business development approach.
Reform of the healthcare system in Mainland China has begun, which will see follow-up consultation and dispensing of medicine at community health centers replacing visits to hospitals in chronic diseases management to reduce healthcare costs. To tap the business opportunities national policy brings, the Group is actively expanding its clinic network and distribution channels for some existing products and pipeline drugs for treating chronic diseases, such as diabetes and osteoporosis. Since it was set up in 2011 by HeungKong Group, HeungKong Healthcare has built a family health center chain that covers medical consultation service, and drug dispensaries and sanatorium operations, etc. And the Uni-Bio Science’s aforementioned pharmaceutical products availed at HeungKong Group’s family health centers means the community and patients with chronic diseases will have access to better daily or follow-up consultation and drug dispensary services. Moreover, HeungKong Healthcare will make use of Big Data in the future to establish an online health platform for offering products and services O2O. Thus, the cooperation between the two partners will not only enable the Group to perfect its distribution network for pharmaceutical products, but also see it enter the field of using Big Data applications in chronic diseases management.
The two partners will also look into opportunities of setting up bio-pharmaceutical incubation centers. With “external innovation” becoming a mainstream strategy in the global pharmaceutical industry, Uni-Bio Science intends to be the first in China to adopt the “external innovation” strategy, that is to work with external start-ups on new project incubation, to speed up new product development. Drawing from HeungKong Group’s successful experience in building an A.I. incubation platform with Microsoft in Nansha, Guangzhou, and the Group’s own R&D capability and pharmaceutical expertise, this innovative strategy stands well to be realized.
Furthermore, the Group will partner with Futec International Group, HeungKong Group’s financial platform, to jointly explore and seize opportunities to acquire and merge with bio-pharmaceutical and bio-tech companies in the global market. Futec International Group boasts an experienced international team shrewd at capturing quality investment opportunities around the world. It plans to quickly establish foothold in the international innovative drug and pharmaceutical product markets. Capitalizing on Futec International Group’s rich experience in investment banking and outstanding ability in searching for investment opportunities worldwide and the Group’s solid track record in drug development, registration and opening market access for its products, more quality pharmaceutical products and advanced technologies will be introduced to China and patients in the country will have more innovative and reliable treatment choices.