(Reuters) – German diversified healthcare group Fresenius (NYSE:FMS) terminated a joint venture agreement with its Russian partners, succumbing to the economic fallout of sanctions due to the Ukraine crisis.
"Changing political and regulatory circumstances in the region have made the closing of the joint venture more challenging than anticipated," Fresenius said late yesterday.
Fresenius’s generic infusion drug unit Kabi had agreed in April with Russia’s Sistema JSFC and Zenitco Finance Management LLC to pool their drugs activities in Russia with about $180 million in combined sales from infusion treatments, clinical nutrition and pharmaceutical ingredients.
A Fresenius spokesman said neither of the 2 sides had been under political pressure to dissolve the agreement and no financial charges would result from the move.
“It was a discretionary decision taken by the 2 partners," he said.
Violence between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian forces in the east of the country continue to flare up despite a September ceasefire and the Kremlin this week flagged a "deterioration of the situation."
The European Union and the U.S. have imposed economic sanctions on Russia, with the West accusing Moscow of providing pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine with troops and weapons. Russia denies the accusation.
Fresenius had signalled this week that business in Russia was in turmoil, even though the sanctions do not directly affect the healthcare industry.
"Everyone I’ve talked to in the industry has seen revenue decrease, and it’s a whole bag of things and we’re no exception to that," Fresenius CEO Ulf Schneider told analysts in a Nov. 4 conference call after the group reported 3rd-quarter results. "It’s delayed tenders, it’s a few other issues. There is a lot of stress on the system right now."
Other German companies have also felt the economic impact of Western sanctions on business in Russia.
Generic drugmaker Stada’s business in Russia has fallen because drugs distributors are running down inventories to cut their funding needs amid higher borrowing costs.
Retailer Metro delayed the stock market listing of a stake in its Russian cash-and-carry operation earlier this year.
Opel, the European arm of General Motors, is cutting production and shedding around 500 jobs in Russia, and consumer goods and glues maker Henkel is also looking at cutbacks as sales in Russia decline.
