Marcos Provit cleared to sell 18 Evofarm pharmacies to Penta Investments

The Romanian Competition Council gave the green light for Marcos Provit to sell 18 Evofarm pharmacies to the investment fund Penta Investments Limited. Marcos Provit is controlled by Marius Gabriel Neagu and Andrei Isac, who are associated with Mihai Cristian Ciolacu, the nephew of premier Marcel Ciolacu. The pharmacies are located across five counties: Sibiu, Vrancea, Galați, Brașov and Ilfov.

Penta Investments already owns the Dr. Max pharmacy chain and has significant interests in the gambling sector through Fortuna Entertainment Group. Marcos Provit has grown to a network of 156 pharmacies in 15 counties under the Evofarm brand. The transaction adds to the company's recent acquisitions of pharmacies previously held by major players such as Polisano and Farmacia de la Țară. The sale highlights the intertwining of political connections and large-scale business deals in Romania's health sector.