(Hong Kong, 2 April 2024) – Trustar Capital (the private equity affiliate of CITIC Capital Holdings Limited)
is pleased to announce the successful completion of the acquisition of leading throat healthcare
company Guilong Pharmaceutical (Anhui) Co., Ltd. (“Guilong Pharmaceutical”, or the “Company”) via its
China buyout fund. This acquisition marks a significant milestone in Trustar Capital’s investment strategy
in the OTC pharmaceutical and wellness industry.
Established in 1989, Guilong Pharmaceutical has a rich history of over 30 years. Guided by the mission
of “Inheriting the Essence of Chinese Medicine, Promoting Public Health”, Guilong Pharmaceutical has
continuously pursued research and innovation to enrich its product portfolio, covering both the OTC
pharmaceutical and the larger wellness sector. Over the years, the company has successfully built two
well-known brands, Guilong ( ) and Manyanshuning ( ), offering a comprehensive selection
of solutions for throat problems spanning from mild to severe conditions. Additionally, Guilong
Pharmaceutical has expanded its product line into the broader wellness sector, providing consumers
with a diverse selection of products for throat health and related areas.
With the increasing demand for medical health, the OTC pharmaceutical and wellness industry in China
has a promising outlook. OTC pharmaceuticals play a crucial role in improving treatment accessibility
and reducing healthcare costs. In recent years, there has been a significant surge in China’s self-care and
self-medication markets, bolstered by the extensive support from national policies. Furthermore, factors
such as an aging population, heightened public health awareness, tech innovation, and pervasive
healthcare reform will continue to drive steady growth in the Chinese OTC pharmaceutical market.
According to IQVIA, a leading global healthcare service provider, the market size of OTC sector will
exceed RMB300 billion by 2025.
Feng DAI, general manager of Guilong Pharmaceutical, said: “Since its establishment over 30 years ago,
Guilong Pharmaceutical has consistently focused on the needs of consumers, laid great emphasis on
product efficacy and quality management, and regarded product competitiveness as a backbone of the
brand, hence has built a leading reputation in the throat health sector. In the future, under the support of
Trustar Capital, Guilong Pharmaceutical will actively expand the treatment offerings, enhance product
portfolio, and improve omnichannel presence to strengthen our leading position in the OTC
pharmaceutical markets.”
Yan ZHAO, Partner of Trustar Capital, said: “We are optimistic about the future of China’s OTC
pharmaceuticals industry. We highly recognize Guilong’s excellent reputation in the market and their
iconic brand and are excited to work with the outstanding and energetic management team led by general
manager DAI Feng. Looking ahead, we aim to utilize our resources and post-investment experience to
further empower the company. Additionally, we plan to leverage our M&A expertise and network to
expand Guilong Pharmaceutical’s product line and treatment offerings, driving sustainable growth going
forward.”
Trustar Capital has significant investment experience in the healthcare sector, focusing on
comprehensively and continuously integrating resources and expanding the industry, and has
established a rich ecosystem of portfolio enterprises, including Harbin Pharmaceutical Group, GNC,
Taibang Biologic Group, Jissbon, Genertec Universal Medical, Hygeia Healthcare, Genesis MedTech,
MedAlliance and other high-quality enterprises. This acquisition of Guilong Pharmaceutical aligns
perfectly with Trustar Capital’s buyout investment strategy. It also showcases Trustar Capital’s deep
experience and strong capabilities when it comes to multinational corporations carving out their Chinese
businesses. Moving forward, Trustar Capital will remain focused on mergers and integration within the
OTC pharmaceutical and wellness space and create long-term value by building out a complete suite of
public health services over the long run.
About Trustar Capital
Trustar Capital, the private equity affiliate of CITIC Capital Holdings Limited, focuses on control buyout
opportunities globally and has completed around 100 investments since inception across China, Japan,
U.S., Europe, etc. Trustar Capital currently manages USD8.7 billion of committed capital. For more
information, please visit http://www.trustarcapital.com/.
Founded in 2002, CITIC Capital Holdings Limited is an alternative investment management and advisory
company. The firm manages over USD16 billion of capital across 100 funds and investment products
through its multiple asset class platform covering private equity, real estate, structured investment &
finance, and asset management. CITIC Capital has over 290 portfolio companies that span 11 sectors
and employ over 500,000 people around the world.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Cindy TAM
Director, Corporate Relations
CITIC Capital Holdings Limited
Tel: +852 3710 6813
cindytam@citiccapital.com
Irene GAO
Senior Associate, Corporate Relations
CITIC Capital Holdings Limited
Tel: +852 3710 6814
irenegao@citiccapital.com
