Zentiva, a European generics pharmaceutical company, has announced its planned sale from Advent International to private equity firm GTCR. Advent acquired Zentiva from Sanofi in 2018 and supported the company’s transformation into a standalone business by expanding its medicine portfolio and manufacturing footprint through organic investments and acquisitions.
Over the past six years, Zentiva has more than doubled its revenue, strengthening its position in the European market. With four wholly owned manufacturing sites and a broad partner network, the company has focused on ensuring supply security and access to affordable medicines. The transaction, subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in early 2026.
GTCR brings significant healthcare and pharmaceutical investment experience, having completed multiple acquisitions in the sector over the last two decades. Zentiva CEO Steffen Saltofte stated, “As we move forward with GTCR, we are excited to build on this momentum to ensure continued growth and expand access to high-quality, affordable medicines.”
Tom Allen, Managing Director at Advent, noted, “Zentiva exemplifies Advent’s ability to carve out and transform non-core divisions into thriving, market-leading businesses. We are proud of what has been achieved and confident Zentiva will continue to excel under GTCR’s ownership.” Advisory roles in the transaction were led by Goldman Sachs and PJT Partners for Advent, and by Barclays, BNP Paribas, and Morgan Stanley for GTCR.
