Hand sanitising deal gives Byotrol direct access to NHS

Cheshire-based anti-microbial technology firm Byotrol has bought Winch Pharma Consumer Healthcare in a deal worth up to £114,000.

The listed company has paid £70,000 cash, with a deferred consideration of up to £44,000 payable in 2018, subject to contract renewal by its key customer, the NHS Business Services Authority.

Winch Pharma has one key asset – a formal one year contract, extendable to three years, to supply the NHS with non-alcohol hand sanitising products and other surface disinfection products, under the Athenian brand. 

Prior to the acquisition, Byotrol was supplying Winch Pharma with all its hand sanitising products, which were repackaged under the Athenian brand.

Winch Pharma’s revenue is predominantly from the NHS, although it also sells into other health and elderly-care providers. 

Byotrol said the acquisition will allow it to benefit directly from Winch Pharma’s recent growth, and secure 100% of the resulting margin, without having to engage in a lengthy process to become a new, formal supplier.

The acquisition includes a seven year exclusive license over the Athenian brand in healthcare in the UK.

Byotrol said it expects to transition Athenian to Byotrol branding, dependent on discussions with the NHS Supply Chain authorities.

David Traynor, chief executive of Byotrol, said: “We have had a good relationship with the owners of Winch Pharma as suppliers to them of small quantities of hand hygiene products.

“This transaction allows us instant and direct access to the growth in non-alcohol personal care products in the healthcare market and beyond.  It also ensures that existing customers of Winch Pharma will see continuity of supply and a pipeline of high-performance, innovative new products to fit within the new biocide regulatory landscape.”