ZCG-Backed Unimed Acquires Lagaay Medical Group

ENT

ZCG-Backed Unimed Acquires Lagaay Medical Group

2025-04-07 18:04 Last Updated At：18:41

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 7, 2025--

Universal Marine Medical Supply International (“Unimed” or the “Company”), the leading global provider of health and compliance solutions to the maritime industry, today announced its acquisition of Lagaay Medical Group (“Lagaay”), a global distributor of pharmaceutical products and medical devices, from B&S Group S.A. (“B&S”). Unimed is backed by affiliates of ZCG Private Equity, the private equity arm of ZCG, a privately held global firm.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250406525944/en/

Headquartered in the Netherlands, Lagaay has more than 140 years of experience providing high-quality medical supplies and pharmaceuticals for the marine industry. The company currently offers 10,000 medical SKUs across 100 active countries. This strategic acquisition expands Unimed’s presence in Rotterdam – the largest port in Europe – further enhancing Unimed’s ability to serve global clients with comprehensive healthcare and compliance solutions as part of its long-term growth strategy.

“This transaction marks a significant step in strengthening Unimed’s leadership in the maritime medical industry while deepening our partnerships with clients worldwide,” said Søren Andersen, Chief Executive Officer of Unimed. “We have long respected Lagaay’s business and global reach, particularly its strong presence in Rotterdam. We look forward to welcoming their team to Unimed, expanding our technology-driven subscription model to more clients, and continuing to execute on our growth strategy.”

“Joining forces with Unimed is the right next step for Lagaay, we have always perceived Unimed as a logical partner to capture synergies and strengthen the market position of Lagaay in the maritime medical industry,” said Peter van Mierlo, Chief Executive Officer of B&S. “We are proud of all that we have achieved with Lagaay’s management over the past 4,5 years, growing its client base and solutions, and focusing on operational excellence. We wish the team continued success in this next chapter.”

“We are pleased to announce this strategic transaction as Unimed continues to capitalize on both organic and inorganic growth opportunities,” said James Zenni, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of ZCG. “With this expansion, Unimed is even more well positioned to lead the maritime industry by delivering the platform of choice to clients globally. We look forward to supporting the combined Unimed and Lagaay leadership and the experienced teams as they integrate two companies.”

The transaction is expected to close in the coming days, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

In connection with the acquisition, Unimed will launch a new branding and product suite at the Seatrade Cruise Global conference later this month, marking a new chapter in its evolution as a premier healthcare provider for the maritime sector. Attendees will get a first look at the refreshed identity, reflecting Unimed’s commitment to innovation and excellence.

About Unimed

Unimed is the industry leader in medical supply, equipment and oxygen distribution to global maritime industries, specializing in the delivery of integrated healthcare and compliance solutions to clients worldwide.

Unimed is a portfolio company of ZCG Private Equity, the private equity arm of ZCG ( www.zcg.com ), a leading privately held global firm comprised of private markets asset management, business consulting services, and technology development and solutions.

For more information, please visit https://universalmarinemedical.com/.

About ZCG

ZCG is a leading, privately held global firm comprised of private markets asset management, business consulting services, and technology development and solutions.

For nearly three decades, ZCG has invested tens of billions of dollars in private equity and credit-related strategies, through multiple economic cycles and across many industries, including consumer products, steel, steel processors, agriculture, consumer food, gaming, hospitality, manufacturing, specialty services, and automotive.

ZCG’s investors include prominent global sovereign wealth funds, endowments, pension funds, insurance companies, foundations, family offices, wealth management firms, and other financial institutions in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

ZCG has a global team comprised of approximately 400 professionals. The company is headquartered in New York, with affiliate offices located in Pune and Mumbai, India, and Riyadh, KSA.

For more information, please visit www.zcg.com.

EU chief welcomes Trump's tariff pause but is quiet about the bloc's own retaliatory duty plan

2025-04-10 16:31 Last Updated At：16:40

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday welcomed President Donald Trump’s decision to temporarily halt most U.S. tariffs, but she did not say whether the European Union intends to press ahead with its own retaliatory measures.

“I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE,” Trump said, after recognizing the more than 75 countries that he said have been negotiating on trade and had not retaliated against his latest increases in tariffs. Countries subject to the pause will now be tariffed at 10%. The EU's rate was 20%, but it was not entirely clear how the 27-nation bloc would be impacted.

China was not included. Trump further jacked up the tax rate on Chinese imports to 125%.

Von der Leyen described the halt on reciprocal tariffs as “an important step towards stabilizing the global economy. Clear, predictable conditions are essential for trade and supply chains to function.”

Before Trump’s announcement on Wednesday, EU member countries voted to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods in response to his 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. The EU, the largest trading partner of the U.S., described them as “unjustified and damaging.”

The tariffs are set to go into effect in stages, some on April 15 and others on May 15 and Dec. 1. The EU commission didn’t immediately provide a list of the goods. The bloc’s top trade official has shuttled between Brussels and Washington for weeks trying to head off a conflict.

But Von der Leyen gave no sign that the EU’s timetable has changed. Spokesman Olof Gill noted that the commission “will now take the necessary time to assess this latest development, in close consultation with our member states and industry, before deciding on next steps.”

Members of the EU – the world’s largest trading bloc – repeated their preference for a negotiated deal to settle trade issues, and von der Leyen underscored that commitment, “with the goal of achieving frictionless and mutually beneficial trade.”

Still, the head of the EU’s executive branch – which negotiates trade deals and disputes on behalf of the member countries – said that Europe intends to diversify its trade partnerships.

She said that the EU will continue “engaging with countries that account for 87% of global trade and share our commitment to a free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas,” and to lift barriers to commerce inside its own single market.

“Together, Europeans will emerge stronger from this crisis,” von der Leyen said.