CAPS Pharmaceuticals has collapsed

Published: 22 July 2013

DRUG manufacturing company CAPS Pharmaceuticals has collapsed after the firm's factory premises in Harare's Southerton industrial area was last week auctioned for US$1,5 million cash.

This was after the Sheriff of the High Court ordered the sale of some of its assets to repay debts owed to CBZ Bank.

The sale, however, can be challenged within seven days from the date of auction. The auctioned assets include a drug manufacturing plant, a three-storey administration block with 47 offices, a kitchen, bar with a dispensary section, packaging sections, cold- rooms, receiving bays, a clinic and a guardroom.

Businessman Mr Fred Mtandah is the controlling shareholder of the company which is involved in the manufacture and distribution of pharmaceuticals. He could not be reached for a comment last Friday.

The fate of the company's workers could not be established. But upon the completion of the sale and transfer of the property, the buyer will have powers to evict the workers from the premises.

Caps used to be the country's largest drug manufacturing company before it plunged into a financial crisis.

The company last traded on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange on November 30, 2011 before delisting.

It said then that the delisting would pave way for restructuring of the business that would see new investors coming in to inject fresh capital.

The pharmaceutical concern ended a 42-year presence on the bourse, trading at US0,10c per share and valued at US$3,5 million.

Cabinet had recommended that Government, through the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe Limited, should save the pharmaceutical giant from collapse by taking over its debts.

In April last year, the Deputy Sheriff attached Caps Holdings assets to recover US$4 million owed to CBZ Bank.
- herald