Report: Ratiopharm may be up for sale

FRANKFURT, Germany European generic powerhouse Ratiopharm may be placed on the sales bloc, Reuters reported over the weekend, citing sources close to the matter.

The sale may be part of a financial rescue package for German tycoon Adolf Merckle. The German newspaper Suedwest Presse had reported on its web site Friday that the sale of Ratiopharm was likely unavoidable, citing the head of Ratiopharm's work council Odo Maxein. Maxein had been hoping for a takeover of Ratiopharm by a strategic investor such as Pfizer, the paper reported.

The Ratiopharm Group has 5,417 employees worldwide, including 2,846 in Germany, according to the company’s web site.