<article>Malaysian retail pharmacy chain <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/tag/redcap/">RedCap Pharmacy</a>, owned by private equity firm <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/tag/creador/">Creador</a>, has merged with local pharma retailer BIG Pharmacy, this portal has learnt.</article>

Malaysian retail pharmacy chain <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/tag/redcap/">RedCap Pharmacy</a>, owned by private equity firm <a href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/tag/creador/">Creador</a>, has merged with local pharma retailer BIG Pharmacy, this portal has learnt.
The merger is said to have been completed in January this year. The combined entity is now being rebranded as &#8220;BIG Pharmacy&#8221; and has a total of 34 outlets located in Klang Valley and Johor.
Creador founder and chief executive Brahmal Vasudevan confirmed the deal to DEALSTREETASIA and said the PE firm now has a &#8220;significant minority position in the combined entity&#8221;. He, however, did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
When asked about post-merger consolidation and growth plans for the combined entity, he said, &#8220;We hope to grow organically. As a combined business, we have a larger footprint and the ability to invest.&#8221;
Formerly known as D’Apotic Pharmacy, RedCap was acquired by Creador in May 2015 from its three pharmacist founders. The PE firm re-launched the pharmacy with a new management team and rebranding in 2016.
It had then revealed that it had invested about $24.53 million (MYR100 million) in the Malaysian firm. The funding was to cover RedCap’s first phase of growth over about two years. Creador had indicated then that it will consider investing more capital in the chain for expansion, within the period, should the need arise.
When asked about utilization of the infused capital, Vasudevan noted, &#8220;We folded in excess cash to support the growth of the company.&#8221;
Established in 1998, RedCap says it has aggressive plans to expand its footprint nationwide offering its customers convenience, quality service and extensive product knowledge in a fresh modern customer-friendly retail environment.
Established in 2007, BIG Pharmacy, a relatively smaller player, is a privately held Malaysian chain that started out as L&amp;L Healthcare Supply Sdn Bhd. It was founded by Lee Meng Chuan and Lim Sin Yin, both of whom studied as pharmacists. It now operates 13 stores in and around Klang Valley, with the latest store opening at Seremban in 2017.
There has been no formal announcement from Creador, RedCap or BIG Pharmacy about the merger. However, a quick look at RedCap&#8217;s website says, &#8220;Now re-branded to BIG Pharmacy&#8221;.
For Creador, RedCap is its third portfolio company in the healthcare space, with the other two based in India &#8212; pharmaceuticals company Corona Remedies and hospital chain Paras Healthcare.
Last week, Creador invested $43.8 million in Vietnam’s largest mobile device and consumer electronics retailer, Mobile World. Other recent investments include India&#8217;s publicly-listed Ujjivan Financial Services Ltd, the holding company of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank, in which the PE firm picked up a 5 per cent stake in November last year.
According to media reports, Creador is further planning to launch a new $500-600 million fourth fund this year primarily focused on India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Its previous fund was closed at $415 million in December 2016. The private equity firm, based out of Malaysia, Mauritius, India and Indonesia, has raised $130-million and $331-million funds in the past.
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<a style="color: #ff0000;" href="https://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/south-asia-focussed-pe-creador-invests-43-8m-vietnams-mobile-world-91683/">Creador invests $43.8m in Vietnam’s Mobile World</a>
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The combined entity, which runs a total of 34 outlets in Klang Valley and Johor, is now being rebranded as "BIG Pharmacy".

Exclusive: Creador-backed Malaysian retailer RedCap merges with BIG Pharmacy

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