- 2024
PHOENIX celebrates 30 years
Delivering health to customers and patients since 1994, PHOENIX has grown in the short time span of 30 years into an integral part of the European healthcare scene, a leader in pharmaceutical wholesale and retail.
- 2023
Retail expansion
McCabes Pharmacy's 32 stores in Ireland become part of the PHOENIX family. Uniting with our 82 LloydsPharmacy branches under the McCabes brand, this forms Ireland's largest retail pharmacy chain.
Meanwhile in Italy, the BENU brand is launched for the first time with a view to be rolled out across the newly acquired LloydsFarmacia pharmacies. Two new innovative concept stores are launched in Milan and Bologna.
- 2022
Largest acquisition in the company’s history
PHOENIX group completes the acquisition of parts of McKesson Europe, opening up new healthcare markets in Belgium, Ireland, Portugal, and Slovenia, while expanding its existing activities in France and Italy. PHOENIX group reasserts its leading position in Europe with 224 sites across 29 countries and more than 48,000 employees.
- 2020
Europe
The COVID-19 pandemic poses major challenges for healthcare systems and market participants across Europe. Together with community pharmacies, PHOENIX is able to ensure the supply of medicines to millions of people - also thanks to the tireless efforts of its employees in 158 sites in the business areas pharmaceutical wholesale and pre-wholesale and over 2,800 own pharmacies.
Germany
PHOENIX, together with partners, is developing Germany's first central health platform, which is launched as "gesund.de". Within the digital platform, consumers and patients can directly communicate with pharmacies, doctors and other healthcare professionals. Via browser and app, personal health matters can be managed easily. The portal will also be e-prescription compatible.
- 2019
25 years of PHOENIX
This year the PHOENIX group celebrates its 25th anniversary. The highlight of the activities was the official ceremony in April 2019 at the company headquarters in Mannheim.
Czech Republic
BENU, the PHOENIX group's largest retail brand, celebrates the opening of its 2,500th pharmacy. The new pharmacy is located in Prague. It is the 40th BENU pharmacy in the Czech capital and the 222nd branch of the company in the country.
Germany
PHOENIX is offering an innovative digital service package for sales support to all pharmacies in Germany. The service package consists of two components: the PHOENIX app "deine Apotheke" and exclusive access to the PAYBACK bonus programme.
- 2018
Romania
With Romania, the PHOENIX group enters the 27th country and thus a completely new market. Through the successful takeover of the pharmacy chain Help Net and the wholesaler Farmexim, the entire country now is supplied with health services even more comprehensively.
Germany
The healthcare provider PHOENIX has launched the new app "deine Apotheke" together with its subsidiary ADG. The app gives pharmacy customers easy and quick access to the drugs and health products they need.
- 2017
PHOENIX group
With LIVSANE the PHOENIX group introduces for the first time a Europe-wide category brand for all pharmacies. As part of the PHOENIX Pharmacy Partnership, the range is aimed at independent pharmacies in the PHOENIX cooperation programmes as well as at further individual pharmacies. In addition, PHOENIX distributes the LIVSANE products through its own BENU pharmacies.
Serbia
PHOENIX group invests in Serbia in the opening of a new logistics centre near Belgrade. With the acquisition of the pharmacy chain Goodwill Apoteka, PHOENIX becomes market leader in Serbian pharmacy retail.
Gotha
PHOENIX opens a new distribution centre in Gotha, Germany. It strengthens local individual pharmacies and ensures a reliable supply of drugs and health products to the whole of Central Germany.
- 2016
Netherlands
Brocacef takes a leading position in the Dutch healthcare market by taking over Mediq Apotheken Nederland B.V. The PHOENIX group subsidiary holds this position with the pharmacies newly operating under the name BENU, its wholesale division and pre-wholesale activities.
Hungary
The acquisition of the Hungarian Novodata Zrt. by ADG, a PHOENIX group subsidiary, strengthens the company’s position in the field of pharmacy software and till systems.
- 2015
Slovakia and Czech Republic
The PHOENIX group is strengthening its position in the local retail business with the acquisition of the company SUNPHARMA.
PHOENIX group
PHOENIX group with a unique geographical coverage: Presence in 25 countries with 153 distribution centres, and more than 1,700 of its own pharmacies in 12 European countries.
Germany
Double gold for ADG and its parent company PHOENIX in the annual German pharmacy survey. For the third time in a row, they were jointly named “Best Pharmacy Partner” in their category.
- 2014
The PHOENIX group celebrates its 20th anniversary
Sincere thanks go to all employees for their active commitment and loyalty! They are the reason PHOENIX has succeeded in becoming one of Europe’s leading pharmaceutical traders!
- 2013
PHOENIX group
Successful issuance of another corporate bond with a volume of EUR 300 million.
Germany
PHOENIX awarded for "Best pharmacy partner 2013."
- 2012
Rating
In summer 2012, rating agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor’s upgraded the bond rating by two notches to “BB”.
PHOENIX group
Signing of a EUR 1.35bn syndicated facilities agreement.
PHOENIX group
Successful introduction of the new retail brand BENU in the first half of the year. The new store concept, comprising shop fittings, optimization of the presentation of goods as well as an individual consultation of customers has already been successfully implemented in several countries.
- 2011
PHOENIX group
Announcement of BENU, the new retail brand in several European countries, starting in the Netherlands.
Italy
Market position in Northern Italy strengthened with acquisition of Farcopa Distribuzione S.r.l. in the first quarter and Farmaceutici Signorini S.r.l. in the second quarter.
Netherlands
Pharmacy chain Lloyds Nederland BV successfully integrated in the first quarter.
Rating
In July rating agency Standard & Poor’s upgraded the company’s rating from B+ to BB- with continuing positive outlook. In August, the rating agency Moody’s raised the outlook for PHOENIX from “stable” to “positive”. In October, the rating agency Fitch issued a rating for PHOENIX of “BB” with a “stable” outlook.
- 2010
PHOENIX group
Sale of participations in KL Holding, ZAO Rosta and Andreae-Noris Zahn AG. Successful refinancing.
PHOENIX group
Access to the capital market for the first time, following the issue of a bond with a volume of over EUR 500 million.
Switzerland
Group Capitole signs its first 14 franchising contracts.
United Kingdom
PHOENIX selected by Pfizer as its sole distributor to the non-dispensing market.
- 2009
PHOENIX group
In the course of the refinancing measures, the company becomes PHOENIX Pharmahandel GmbH & Co KG.
United Kingdom
Appointment by Lilly UK of PHOENIX as one of two partners in a DtP distribution arrangement.
Bosnia and Herzegovina / Serbia
Start of operations under the PHOENIX name.
- 2008
Bulgaria
Libra enters hospital and state procurement market: this step secures the leading position of Libra in combined market share in Bulgaria in 2009 and 2010. The hospital market team of Libra is the fastest-growing turnover and market share in Bulgaria – from 4,4% at the end of 2007 to 19,1% in 2010.
Italy
Farmaceutica Bolognese (Emilia Romagna) merged in Comifar Distribuzione, after a first acquisition of 40% in 2005.
Netherlands
foundation of Medithuis (development and implementation of care concepts).
Switzerland
The participation in Group Capitole is brought into the Swiss Oclanis Holding AG.
United Kingdom
Rowlands acquires its 500th pharmacy (January). Acquisition of Munro – significantly larger facilities in Scotland and existing presence in Northern Ireland with depot in Belfast.
- 2007
Italy
Company's centenary celebrations.
Croatia
Acquisition of Unipharm d.o.o. and Jadran-Pharma d.o.o., which leads to market leadership in Croatia.
Switzerland
Acquisition of the majority share in Amedis-Holding AG, which leads to an indirect increase in our shareholding in Amedis-UE AG.
Czech Republic
PHOENIX acquires EUROPHARM, a.s., a company operating about 80 retail pharmacies. During this period PHOENIX buys nearly 90% of shares and starts a new project of chain consolidation under the pharmacy name „Pharmaland“.
United Kingdom
Completion of HQ extension providing 35% more office space (February). Establishment of dedicated hospital division to grow market share. Acquisition of predominantly southern based membership organisation, Nucare by Numark, with 550 new members from the independent sector (November). Acqusition of Practice Services (UK) Ltd (PSUK) – leading membership group and unique route to dispensing doctor market.
- 2006
PHOENIX group
Group-wide turnover exceeds EUR 20 billion for the first time. Acquisition of the wholesaler Viafarma, shares in the Czech company Europharm, and the majority share in the wholesaler Farmaceutica Bolognese.
Netherlands
Introduction of Escura Apotheek, Brocacef's retail brand (February). Acquisition of ZALV (ZiekenhuisApotheek en Laboratorium Venray) by Brocacef Holding. ZALV delivers pharmaceutical care to healthcare institutions.
PHOENIX group
Tamro MedLab is sold to the private equity investor CapMan on 1 June.
- 2005
PHOENIX group
Acquisition of the Bulgarian pharmaceutical wholesaler Libra AG and its subsidiaries in Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro.
Czech Republic
Merger with local wholesaler Purus. At the time Purus hold 7-8% of market share, PHOENIX successfully takes over major part of Purus turnover and integrates staff and stock facilities.
United Kingdom
Acquisition of East Anglian Pharmaceuticals. Formation of Rx Systems Ltd – UK systems house and provider of PMR and EPOS systems to UK pharmacies (March). Acquisition of East Anglian Pharmaceuticals in Norwich with its established presence in the hospital sector (August). Acquisition of Numark, market leading membership organisation for independent pharmacy.
- 2004
Croatia
Takeover of Medifarm Velebit d.d. and Farmacija d.d. As a part of the merger, the two companies acquired , Farmacija and Medifarm-Velebit, are renamed into PHOENIX Farmacija on 1 November 2004.
Switzerland
Group Capitole enters the Swiss German retail market by the acquisition of Pharmafit AG (group of pharmacies belonging to Amedis UE).
PHOENIX group
PHOENIX receives title to all shares of Tamro Corporation (May). 100% shareholding in Tamro acquired: largest acquisition in the history of PHOENIX successfully completed; delisting from the Helsinki Stock Exchange.
Hungary
Merger of Westpharma Rt. and Bellis Rt. into PHOENIX Rt.
- 2003
Croatia
PHOENIX enters the Croatian market. In December, PHOENIX acquires 100 per cent of the shares in Farmacija d.d. in a public tender process. Farmacija is a long-established Croatian company and number 2 in the market. The contract for the acquisition of Medifarm Velebit, the fourth largest pharmaceutical wholesaler, is also signed at the end of December 2003.
Netherlands
Brocacef subsidiary Magnafarma (producer of generics) sold to ratiopharm.
Slovakia
Purchase of the market leader Fides.
PHOENIX group
Acquisition of Apoteket AB’s shares by PHOENIX triggers a redemption process leading to a full takeover by PHOENIX.
Hungary
Acquisition of Bellis Rt.
- 2002
PHOENIX group
Pharmahandel AG & Co KG merges with Ferd. Schulze GmbH Co.
PHOENIX group
Group-wide turnover exceeds EUR 15 billion for the first time. Turnover in Germany exceeds EUR 5 billion for the first time.
- 2001
Italy
Joint venture with the Italian company Adivar: market leadership achieved in Italy.
Switzerland
Takeover of Uhlmann-Eyraud S.A., based in western Switzerland.
PHOENIX group
Full consolidation of the Tamro Group. Tamro’s subsidiary in liberalised Norway merges with the leading pharmacy chain Apokjeden, and Tamro subscribes to shares in the new Apokjeden Group. Tamro becomes an owner of pharmacies. Tamro Group also acquires pharmacies in Latvia and Estonia.
- 2000
Italy
Joint venture with Adivar, which operates in the centre and south of Italy. A&C-Adivar Comifar S.p.A. is the name, and controls Grossfarma Distribuzione in Sicily.
Netherlands
Takeover of Brocacef Holding NV.
Switzerland
Entry into the Swiss market. The founding of the new Amedis AG, a joint venture between the original Amedis company (new: Amedis Holding AG) and PHOENIX, underscores the latter's ambitions to take on shared responsibility in the distribution market for long-term success.
PHOENIX group
The 33.7% stake in Tamro Group, Finland, owned by Danish investors, is acquired in April by PHOENIX Pharmahandel AG & Co KG.
Czech Republic
PHOENIX acquires a wholesaling part of Medicamenta in Vysoké Mýto, Eastern Bohemia.
- 1999
Italy
Between ‘97 and ‘99 Comifar acquires CIM of Perugia, SAM of Treviso, La Commerciale Farmaceutici of Roma, Giovine Farmaceutici of Torino. All these companies are gradually merged into Comifar Distribuzione. In 1999 Comifar takes the control of Spem of Segrate, franchising model company.
Hungary
Acquisition of Westpharma Rt.
- 1998
United Kingdom
Entry into the United Kingdom market: 11 distribution centres, a wholesale network with almost nationwide coverage. Acquisition by the PHOENIX group of regional wholesalers L. Rowland & Co. and Philip Harris Medical to establish a PHOENIX presence in the UK, with the aim of establishing a third significant player in the pharmaceutical distribution industry, alongside AAH/Lloyds and Unichem/Moss. The Rowlands estate comprises approximately 70 pharmacies.
- 1997
Austria
100% takeover of the Austrian company Hestag.
France
Schulze Pharma France is renamed PHOENIX Pharma.
- 1996
Germany
Restructuring completed, ADG and transmed combine their goods management and logistics activities. Internet portal "PHOENIX International Network (PIN)" goes online.
Germany / Austria / Switzerland
Pharmaceutical Science Award presented for the first time.
- 1995
PHOENIX group
Formation of Holding company PHOENIX International Beteiligungs GmbH.
Italy
Majority acquired in the Northern Italian pharmaceutical wholesaler Comifar S.p.A.
Netherlands
Acquisition of a 60-per cent shareholding in the second-largest Dutch pharmaceutical wholesaler ACF Holding NV, based in Marsen near Amsterdam.
Hungary
Majority shareholding in the Hungarian pharma wholesaling company Parma Rt.
- 1994
PHOENIX Pharmahandel Aktiengesellschaft & Co founded
From the German regional wholesalers F. Reichelt AG (Hamburg), Otto Stumpf GmbH (Berlin), Ferd. Schulze GmbH (Mannheim), Otto Stumpf AG (Nuremberg), and Hageda AG (Cologne). The new company has been the market leader in its home market from day one.
