Mr. Guo Guangchang and his Team Visited Folli Follie and Sellas
On 27 November morning local time in Greece, Mr. Guo Guangchang, Chairman of Fosun Group, visited the headquarters of Folli Follie Group in Athens and had a meeting with Mr. Dimitris Koutsolioutsos, Chairman and Founder; and Mr. George Koutsolioutsos, CEO of Folli Follie Group.
Mr. Dimitris Koutsolioutso presented to Mr. Guo Folli Follie’s overall performance for 2013 and the latest developments in the China market. Since Fosun’s investment, Folli Follie’s development in China has been speeding up and has achieved higher brand awareness. The total number of points of sales in China is expected to exceed 200 in 2013, doubled the amount of 98 before the investment by Fosun. Mr. George Koutsolioutsos outlined to Mr. Guo the company’s future plan for the next few years. Both sides exchanged views on further cooperation in China and Greece markets. Mr. Guo expressed that Fosun will, as always, support Folli Follie’s development in China and encourage Koutsolioutsos Family to introduce more excellent Greek enterprises to China to tap the opportunities from the country’s continuing economic growth with Fosun. Qian Jiannong, President of Fosun Tourism & Commercial Group and a Director of Folli Follie, also attended the meeting.
Fosun’s investment in Folli Follie was regarded a successful implementation of Fosun’s business model of “combining China’s growth momentum with global resources” by overseas institutions. In May 2011, Fosun, with its associates, made an investment in Folli Follie Group and has since accumulated its interest to up to 13.85% in total at present, thereby becoming Folli Follie’s second largest shareholder. Driven both by recovery in the Greek capital market and Folli Follie’s excellent performance, the company’s share price has surged about 80% in the secondary market trading in 2013.
Mr. Guo Guangchang and his team also met with Dr. Angelos, Chairman of Sellas Clinicals Holding AG (“Sellas”), another cooperation partner of Fosun in Greece yesterday.
A month ago, Chongqing Fochon Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (“Chongqing Fochon”), an indirectly-owned subsidiary of Fosun Pharma, entered into transfer agreements with Sellas pursuant to which Chongqing Fochon agreed to sell and transfer of its rights, titles and interests in certain intellectual properties and for global rights, except for the People’s Republic of China, in development, commercialization, sales, distribution, licenses and all other applicable rights in respect of Fotagliptin Benzoate and Pan-HER Inhibitors for an estimated total consideration of approximately EUR388 million(equivalent to approximately RMB3.248 billion), that will be settled in batches commensurating with the progress of research and development.