Aster-77

Astra-77 is a Russian supplier of equipment and consumables for medical laboratories. Since 1996, the company has been supplying equipment, reagents to laboratories and providing services in the field of laboratory diagnostics. Its partners include Becton Dickinson, Horiba, Sysmex and Siemens Healthcare (by August 2022).

History

2024: EMC increases to 90% stake in Astra-77

On September 23, 2024, it became known that the Russian network of private clinics EMC increased its share in the distributor of Astra-77 laboratory equipment to 90%. There is no information on the value of the transaction as of the specified date.

It is reported that the transaction was carried out through EMC-Holdko JSC, a subsidiary of EMS. For the first time, EMC-Kholodko entered the capital of Astra-77 in May 2022, becoming the owner of 33%, and a month later this value was brought to 72%. As part of the new transaction, an 18 percent stake in Astra-77 was acquired from Pillar Investment LLC, a company registered in the UAE. As a result, EMC-Holdko increased its stake to 90%. The remaining 10% in Astra-77 belongs to Oksana Bronnikova.

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Freepik

Astra-77 specializes in the supply of equipment and consumables for laboratories. The company was founded in 1996. She began with the distribution of laboratory diagnostics equipment Bayer Diagnostics, and then acted as a distributor of medical equipment Sysmex, Bio-rad, Horiba, Becton Dickinson and took part in large-scale projects to re-equip laboratories of medical institutions in Moscow.

It is noted that Astra-77 serves customers from both state and commercial segments. The Company, among other things, carries out the installation of equipment, its maintenance, briefing (training), repair of equipment, consulting, as well as the supply of spare parts and reagents.^[1]

2022: EMC buys Astra-77

At the end of August 2022, it became known about the sale of Astra-77 to one of the largest Russian networks of private clinics EMC. EMC reports for the first half of 2022 provide this information. It says that EMC attracted an investment loan for a deal, as a result of which the company's capital expenditures in January-June increased 4 times compared to a year ago - up to 47 million euros. Net debt also increased - by 47.9% to €254.4 million. In addition to the purchase of Astra-77, the recalculation of the company's ruble loans in euros influenced - the company reports in this currency.

As noted in the company's report, EMS acquired control of Astra-77 by buying a stake from third parties for the indicated remuneration. The distributor was acquired "in order to expand the group's activities in the new segment" trade in medical equipment and reagents for laboratory research, "EMC said.

EMC bought Astra-77

EMS will complete the assessment of the value of Astra-77 assets and liabilities by the end of 2022, but the medical center tentatively estimates the fair value at 28.1 million euros, and another 24.6 million - the benefit from the expected synergistic effect associated with the combination of acquired assets with the main operating activities and strengthening vertical integration.

According to Kommersant, citing data from the SPARK-Interfax system, in May 2022, EMC EMC-Kholodko became a co-owner of 33% of Astra-77. In June 2022, the company's share increased to 72%.

Before EMC, the main share in Astra-77 belonged to the Cypriot Empiko Holding. After the transaction, in addition to EMC, the company is owned by the Cypriot Hierro Holding (18%) and Oksana Bronnikova (10%), the newspaper said.^[2]

Notes