What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

Raia Drogasil is the leading pharmaceutical retail company in Brazil, and it is building a health platform and marketplace to expand its business. For this purpose, the company is aiming to growth both organically and through acquisitions. Organically, the legal team has been involved in the continuous growth of the company, comprising the expansion of pharmaceutical services, vaccines, support for physical and digital business, that were responsible to increase the total annual sales to R$24bn, in 2021.

In respect to the acquisitions, RD group has implemented multiple deals in the last two years. We acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of B2U Editora, Tech.fit, a Brazilian start-up with years of experience in the development of digital platforms for promotion of healthy habits. Afterwards, RD changed this company corporate name to Vitat, to become its health platform, comprising multiple solutions to improve health habits and primary care to its clients. Additionally, we obtained 50% of the outstanding shares of Healthbit Performasys Tecnologia Inteligencia. Healthbit is a healthtech company focused on big data solutions to reduce health plan claims in large companies, by promoting health and disease prevention for its employees through the development of new technologies. We also acquired 100% of Dr. Cuco Desenvolvimento de Software, a pioneer in the development of a digital health care platform focused on adherence to health treatment. Lastly, we acquired 100% of the capital of Amplisoftware Tecnologia. Amplimed is a leading healthtech company in medical records software, offering a complete management solution for clinics and doctor offices, including electronic medical records, telemedicine platform, digital prescription, exam solicitation, appointment scheduling, financial management and billing.

Did the pandemic lead to a lasting increase in the interaction your legal team has with the strategic plans of the company?

The pandemic promoted an immensurable change in societies around the world and Brazil suffered the same. RD group has more than 51,000 employees, more than 2,600 pharmacies and we faced a big challenge since the beginning of the pandemic, especially with no vaccines in 2020, the peak of the crisis. The company structured health monitoring for all its employees, new protocols to operate pharmacies and a clear plan of communication to stakeholders. The legal team supported the company in this strategic approach, communicating this to the legal authorities in Brazil that helped RD to get credibility to operate on continuous basis during the pandemic.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners?

It is very important to understand the business, the interaction of the business areas, and business partners’ needs, to develop a way of productive interaction between the legal team and other departments. In-house lawyers must be able to communicate with its colleagues in an effective way, with empathy and transparency to provide adequate solutions.