GRIFOLS SA
Barcelona, September 19, 2014: Grifols (MCE:GRF, MCE:GRF.P and NASDAQ:GRFS), the world's third-largest manufacturer of plasma-derived biological medicines and a pioneer in the research and development of therapeutic alternatives designed to contribute to both scientific and social development, has acquired 50% of Kiro Robotics, a spin-off from MONDRAGON Health, a strategic unit of the MONDRAGON Corporation, by subscribing an equity offering for the value of 21 million euros in the form of a cash payment.
Created in 2011, Kiro Robotics is a technology company that specializes in the automation of machinery for the hospital sector. It concentrates on developing machines and equipment to automate and control key points of hospital processes, and hospital pharmacy processes in particular, improving the safety
of patients and health professionals alike, and delivering increased efficiency.
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It currently has some of the world's most advanced technology in the hospital pharmacy sector: the Kiro Oncology robot, which automates the preparation of intravenous medication for chemotherapy, minimizing the risk that health professionals will come into contact with these hazardous products.
Grifols' inclusion among the shareholders of Kiro Robotics will help to ensure the viability of Kiro's future projects and will guarantee the continuity of those already under way. In addition, Grifols, through its Hospital division, with its experience, knowledge and international sales network, will promote the global marketing of the robot in international markets, including the United States. Grifols will start direct marketing of the product in Spain, Portugal and Latin America in January 2016.
In addition to acquiring 50% of the voting and financial rights in Kiro Robotics, Grifols has signed a Joint Venture agreement with the company's other shareholders: Mondragon Innovación S.P.E., S.A., MondragonAssembly, S.Coop., Agrupación de Fundición y Utillaje S.Coop., all part of the MONDRAGON Corporation.
Among other issues, this agreement regulates the equity offering subscribed by Grifols and representation on the governing bodies and management of Kiro Robotics, including both the Board of Directors and other internal management bodies.
The Joint Venture Agreement establishes a minimum commitment or lock-up period of 4 years from the date of signature. At the end of this period, the transfer of shares will be subject to the usual restrictions in operations of this type, including sale rights, preferential purchase rights, and drag-along and tag- along rights.
About Grifols
Grifols is a global healthcare company with a 70-year legacy of improving people's health and well being through the development of life-saving plasma medicines, diagnostics systems, and hospital pharmacy products.
The company is present in more than 100 countries worldwide and is headquartered in
Barcelona, Spain. Grifols is a leader in plasma collection with a network of 150 plasma donor
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centers in the U.S., and a leading producer of plasma-derived biological medicines. The company also provides a comprehensive range of transfusion medicine, hemostasis, and immunoassay solutions for clinical laboratories, blood banks and transfusion centers, and is a recognized leader in transfusion medicine.
In 2013, sales exceeded 2,740 million euros with a headcount of 13,200 employees. Grifols demonstrates its commitment to advancing healthcare by allocating a significant portion of its annual income to R&D.
The company's class A shares are listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange, where they are part of the Ibex-35 (MCE:GRF). Its non-voting class B shares are listed on the Mercado Continuo (MCE:GRF.P) and on the U.S. NASDAQ via ADRs (NASDAQ: GRFS). For more information visit www.grifols.com
About Kiro Robotics
Kiro Robotics is a Spanish company created in 2011 as a spin-off of MONDRAGON Health, the specialist health unit of MONDRAGON Corporation. As a technology company, it develops, manufactures and sells machinery and equipment designed to automate or control critical hospital processes, such as dose dispensing in hospital pharmacy and clinical diagnostic services. It develops technologies designed to improve the efficiency, safety and quality of hospital processes, benefiting patients and reducing the risks to health professionals.
Kiro Robotics currently employs a multidisciplinary team of 25 professionals who are experts in automation, engineering and hospital pharmacy, dedicated to the development, validation and manufacture of new products and applications, and to delivery customer service.
MONDRAGON Health is a strategic unit of the MONDRAGON Corporation, created with the aim of leading development in the health sector, and cooperating with other companies to promote integrated solutions.
DISCLAIMER
The facts and figures contained in this report which do not refer to historical data are "projections and forward-looking statements". The words and expressions like "believe", "hope", "anticipate", "predict", "expect", "intend", "should", "try to achieve", "estimate", "future" and similar expressions, insofar as they are related to Grifols Group, are used to identify projections and forward-looking statements. These expressions reflect the assumptions, hypothesis, expectations and anticipations of the management team at the date of preparation of this report, which are subject to a number of factors that could make the real results differ considerably. The future results of Grifols Group could be affected by events related to its own activity, such as shortages of raw materials for the manufacture of its products, the launch of competitive products or changes in the regulations of markets in which it operates, among others. At the date of preparation of this report Grifols Group has adopted the measures it considers necessary to offset the possible effects of these events. Grifols, S.A. does not assume any obligation to publicly inform, review or update any projections and forward-looking statements to adapt them to facts or circumstances following the preparation of this report, except as specifically required by law.
This document does not constitute an offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe shares, in accordance with the provisions of the Spanish Securities Market Law 24/1988, of July 28, the Royal Decree-Law 5/2005, of March 11, and/or Royal Decree 1310/2005, of November 4, and its implementing regulations.
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