Grifols secures 8 million euros to buy 4 plasma centres

Grifols will be given funding of up to 8 million euros (6.3 million pounds) for a period of nine years from Cofides (Spanish Development Finance Corporation).

The loan, which will be provided in dollars, will go towards the cost of four plasma centres, while the rest of the funding will come from the company’s own resources.

Repayments are due after two years, when the loan will be paid off in 14 equal six-monthly instalments.

Spanish holding company Grifols specialises in the hospital-pharmaceuticals sector and describes itself as one of the leading producers of plasma products worldwide.

Grifols claims the fact Cofides has agreed to the loan reflects the organisation’s strong financial position.

Cofides funds private projects with a Spanish interest if it judges they are likely to contribute to the internationalization of the country’s economy.

By buying four plasmapherics centres in the US, Grifols will gain access to 150,000 extra litres for fractionation and conversion to plasma products.

The addition of these centres will bring the total number of Grifols’ plasma centres in the US to 79.

It intends to continue purchasing new centres and extending its existing ones.

During the first quarter of 2008, Grifols’ net profit rose by 33 per cent to 31.1 million euros.