M3 Buys Medical Database Company Vidal Group

Tokyo-based M3, Inc., the parent of healthcare fieldwork firm M3 Global Research, has reached an agreement to acquire global pharma database operator the Vidal Group from Electra Partners' portfolio company AXIO Group, for a reported EUR 100m.

Vidal's business is centred in France, Germany and Spain, published its first pharmaceutical information encyclopedia in 1914 and enjoys a high profile in the Francophone world, plus brands such as Gelbe Liste and MMI Pharmindex in Germany and Vidal Vademecum in Spain, Central and South America. The company has well-established links with pharmaceuticals firms, and distributes information to medical professionals through both digital means and print. Recent launches have boosted its client base among clinics, hospitals and pharmacies.

M3 has 250,000 physician members in Japan, and 3.5 million worldwide including the USA, UK, China, Korea and India, and provides a research panel and career services. The buy will allow it to expand its own operations in Vidal's key markets; expand and optimise Vidal's offering worldwide, and integrate the two firms' expertise for 'new, previously unattempted businesses'. M3 says its 'expects current key management members to remain and continue to manage Vidal' following the acquisition.

The deal is subject to relevant legal and regulatory procedures including works council consultation.

M3 can be found on the web at https://corporate.m3.com/en .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.