Accolades

Johannesburg, South Africa – Aspen Pharmacare, a global specialty and branded pharmaceutical company was honoured at the 4th South African Investment Conference (“SAIC”) when it was presented with an award, by South African President Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, recognising Companies that Best Responded to the Challenges of the COVID Environment. The award acknowledges the role that Aspen has played in localising efforts to manufacture vaccines. Aspen has invested more than R8 billion in pharmaceutical manufacture at their flagship site in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape with a further investment of R500 million announced at the 2022 SAIC. Stavros Nicolaou, Aspen Group Senior Executive Strategic Trade said, “It is an honour for Aspen to be presented with the 2022 SAIC Business Award. We are committed to quality healthcare for all patients across the 150 countries that we distribute our products to, but Africa will always be one of our priorities. Our actions during the COVID pandemic are testimony to our resolve. During this time we have invested significantly in sterile manufacture to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, and we recently secured a license agreement to produce our own COVID-19 vaccine, Aspenovax, for distribution throughout Africa. We remain fully committed to ensuring the equitable and sustainable supply of vaccines on the African continent.” “The SA Investment Conference is a key priority for the South African Presidency and is front and center of South Africa’s economic reconstruction and recovery plan. Our commitments support President Ramaphosa’s goal of attracting R1.2 trillion in investments over 5 years of which 90% has already been secured.  Aspen has been a significant contributor to this target having executed two investment pledges with one of these fully executed which has converted our Gqeberha site into one of the world’s largest manufacturing hubs for general anaesthetics.”

Cape Town, South Africa – JSE Limited-listed Aspen Pharmacare (APN), a global multinational specialty pharmaceutical company, has been presented with the South African Government and Department of International Relations and Cooperations’ (“DIRCO”) Ubuntu Award in the Economic Diplomacy (Global) category at its prestigious 6th annual awards ceremony hosted in Cape Town for this purpose. This auspicious occasion was attended by Minister Naledi Pandor, Cabinet, senior members of Government, the Diplomatic Core, captains of industry and Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, World Health Organisation Director-General. This is the second Ubuntu Economic Diplomacy Award presented to Aspen, the first being in 2018. Stephen Saad, Aspen Group Chief Executive said, “Aspen is honoured  to be presented with an Ubuntu Award for a second time in the Economic Diplomacy (Global) category. We have invested heavily in our pharmaceutical capacity in South Africa and the African continent. Our commitment to our country and our continent is demonstrated in our investments of over R8 billion in our manufacturing capabilities, which is more that the rest of the industry combined. These investments are critical for the industrialisation, autonomy and export opportunities for our economy. These investments have helped us play a pivotal role in harnessing our manufacturing excellence, scientific development and the significant skill and competency of our people in assisting to combat the COVID pandemic. Together with our cutting-edge technologies we are making tangible progress towards addressing vaccine inequality on the African continent. Through our agreement with Johnson & Johnson, we have produced more than 160 million COVID vaccines for distribution across the continent and we are working with them to finalise the terms on Aspenovax, the Aspen COVID-19 vaccine made in Africa for Africa.” The Awards, that were hosted under the theme “Celebrating Excellence in Diplomacy – Working together to build a better Africa and a Better world”, recognise South African industry leaders, eminent persons and ordinary citizens for their distinguished service and contribution toward promoting the country’s national interests and values across the world. Issued by:              Shauneen Beukes, Aspen Group Communications Manager | Cell: +27 82 389 8900

Pretoria – The Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite (Knight of the French National Order of Merit) was bestowed upon Stephen Saad, Aspen’s Group Chief Executive, at the University of Pretoria earlier today.  The national order, originally announced on 11 March 2019, was presented by President Emmanuel Macron at a small event with limited guests in attendance, given heightened Covid-19 gathering protocols.  The National Order of Merit, as awarded by the French President, recognises services and contributions rendered to France, and was created in 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle. Foreigners who have distinguished themselves by their merits in relation to France may be awarded a distinction in the National Order of Merit on the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and within the limits of specific quotas fixed by decree for a period of three years.  President Macron said, “It gives me great honour to bestow the insigna of Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite upon Stephen Saad, in recognition of his role in developing the economic relations between France and South Africa, as well as his life-long engagement with initiatives that have benefited underprivileged communities across the world.”  Responding to President Macron, Stephen Saad said, “I am deeply humbled and honoured to be recognised with this presentation and I wish to thank President Macron, the French and South African governments for enabling Aspen to contribute towards economic development between our countries. The national order conferred on me is, however, humbly accepted on behalf of Aspen’s employees who have contributed in various roles towards this recognition, most notably our employees in France who take responsibility for the production and commercialisation of our sterile medicines at our manufacturing site in Notre Dame de Bondeville, Normandy. These employees have, despite the many challenges experienced over the last year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, remained dedicated to providing healthcare solutions to patients through their expertise, knowledge and passion.”  “Our sterile products produced at the Notre Dame de Bondeville site have, along with a number of other Aspen medicines, played a critical role in treating patients suffering from Covid-19 across Europe and elsewhere in the world. The French government has supported Aspen’s investment and manufacturing initiatives in France since our acquisition of this site in 2013 and we express our sincere thanks to France and its people.” 

Aspen’s Group Treasury Team was recently recognised when they were awarded the highly acclaimed Adam Smith 2020 Best In Class Treasury Solution In Africa Award.