The National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) has begun A sanctioning file against the Cooperativa Farmaceidad Pharmaceuticalbased in Murcia. The reason is a possible breach of its commitments after its merger in 2022 with another entity of similar characteristics, the Conscious Pharmaceutical (Cofarcu).
Specifically, Hefame promised to modify his social statutes regarding the obligations of minimum permanence and purchases of his partners; as well as to inform in writing to all its partners – both Hefame as Cofarcu – about the commitments acquired in the resolution of the regulatory body.
Finally, they also pledged to issue documentation to the CNMC, including the call of the General Assembly and the minutes of the meeting, within 10 days after its celebration.
However, as the CNMC points out in a statement, Hefame did not meet any of these clauses. “It has not sent due communication to all its partners or has submitted the necessary information to verify compliance within the stipulated period,” they have indicated.
In fact, to verify the fulfillment of the commitment related to written communication to all its partners, the CNMC made information requirements to a sample of Hefame partners and part of these denied having received the call.
As the CNMC clarifies, the opening of this file does not prejudge the final result of the investigation. Now it opens a maximum period of three months for resolution.
Billing of 1.8 billion
After the operation, Cofarcu contributed to Hefame 165 partners, 36 workers, a market share of 0.31% and 41 million euros to the billing. But Cofarcu has not been the last fusion of recent times. In June 2024, the company absorbed Riofarco, a pharmaceutical cooperative of La Rioja. With this operation, Hefame has touched the 1.8 billion billing in 2024, just over 1,718 million 2023. It also went from the 4,274 members of 2023 to 4,486 of 2024, and the 1,200 employees at the current 1,275.
In total, these integrations of the Cooperatives of Cuenca and La Rioja (Cofarcu and Riofarco) have contributed to Hefame a 0.7% quota, 95.3 million billing and 364 partners.
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