Well Pharmacy has announced the acquisition of Lexon UK Holdings and Asurex Limited, a family-owned pharmaceutical wholesaler with five depots in Redditch,
Leeds, Durham, East Kilbride and Dublin and a network of community pharmacies across the Midlands, Northwest, and Northeast of England.
Lexon, is a family-owned business which has been in operation for over 25 years, running primarily as a pharmaceutical wholesaler for 3,000 retail pharmacy
customers across the UK and Ireland.
The business also operates 42 community pharmacies - currently trading as Knights Pharmacy - and is also a specialist developer and manufacturer of generic
pharmaceuticals and is a data and solutions provider to pharmacy.
The acquisition will be notified to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Both parties have proactively engaged with the CMA in pre-notification discussions and look forward to continuing to do so productively during the CMA review period.
Haider Choudrey, CFO of Bestway Group which own Well Pharmacy, said: "Through this acquisition we seek to augment our growth momentum and bring in even greater
benefits to both community pharmacies and patients. Well Pharmacy had been searching for a target to expand its footprint and complement its growth trajectory and
we are confident that Lexon fits this criterion."
Bestway Healthcare has appointed Jeremy Meader as its new chief wholesale officer, following the retirement of Anup Sodha.
Meader would join the company in mid-November but is expected to officially assume his responsibilities from January 2, 2024.
He will lead Lexon, Bestway Medhub, Wardle's, Knights Fragrances, PI & Specials manufacturing and the wholesale supply chain.
Sodha, who co-founded the business 25 years ago, will continue to lead the company's wholesale business unit until 31 December 2023.
Commenting on his retirement, Sodhi said: "I am proud of what we achieved at Lexon, it has been a team effort and I am grateful to everyone who has helped as
we built a strong wholesale business.