Centurium considers stake sale in US$6 billion Taibang Biologic: sources

[HONG KONG] Chinese private equity firm Centurium Capital is considering selling its stake in Taibang Biologic Group, people familiar with the matter said.

Centurium has been sounding out potential buyers, including state-owned entities, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private.

A transaction could value the Chinese biopharmaceutical company at about US$6 billion, the people said.

Considerations are ongoing and no final decision has been made on whether to proceed with a sale, the people added.

A representative for Centurium declined to comment. Taibang did not respond to a request for comment.

Founded in 2002 and previously known as China Biologic Products Holdings, Taibang was listed in New York from 2009 until a US$4.8 billion take-private deal in 2021. The company then looked to list in Hong Kong, Bloomberg News reported in 2022.

The Hong Kong share sale did not materialise, but Taibang raised US$300 million in 2022 from investors including Abu Dhabi Investment Authority subsidiary Platinum Orchid and Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC.

Taibang develops plasma-based biopharmaceutical products in three main categories: albumin, human immunoglobulin and human coagulation factors, its website shows.

The take-private deal in 2021 involved a consortium led by Centurium, and which also included Citic Capital, Hillhouse and Temasek Holdings.