Roche plans to sell its French subcontracting arm

Roche France is considering selling its subcontracting arm Cenexi located at Fontenay sous Bois (Val de Marne).

Cenexi employs 489 people and produces injection ampoules and solid forms. In 2007, it achieved turnover of b82.9m. Since it became a Roche subsidiary in 2004, Cenexi has increased its turnover by 22%.

As subcontracting is not the Roche core business, it is hoping to provide Cenexi with a partner that can invest to ensure it becomes a leader in the international subcontracting market. "The decision to sell will be taken only if it suits both Cenexi and Roche," a Roche spokeswoman said.

Roche France is currently considering a number of proposals and has stressed its desire to obtain guarantees and particularly social guarantees from any potential buyer. If the deal goes ahead, Roche would continue its connection with Cenexi via a supply contract.

Roche pharma employs almost 1,300 people at its head office at Neuilly (Hauts de Seine) and has a clinical pharmacology institute in Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin) that employs 40 people, as well as a logistics and distribution platform at Rosny sous Bois (Seine Saint-Denis) with some 100 employees.