Nimmagadda Prasad

Son of an army officer, Prasad obtained his BSc degree from Babu Jagjivanram Govt. College, Hyderabad, and then his MSc from the University of Delhi,[22] followed by a post graduate diploma in management from Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad.[23]

Prasad started his career as a management trainee in Indian Molasses Company in Delhi (an associate of United Molasses Company, UK) in 1984 and was promoted to salesman at Rhone Poulenc Chemicals (the company later merged with Hoechst AG to form Aventis, and then to Vorin Laboratories as general manager of marketing in 1993, from his continuous efforts was elevated to managing director in 1995. When Indian pharma market leader Ranbaxy Ltd. acquired Vorin, Prasad was re-designated Senior managing director and chief executive officer.[24]

During this period, he also developed political connections, and was known to be close to Chief Ministers N. Chandrababu Naidu and Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.[25] Subsequently, he developed a close friendship with Jaganmohan Reddy[26] and served on the board of Sakshi and some other of Jagan's firms.

In 2000, Prasad took over the sick pharmaceuticals company Herren Drugs, and renamed it Matrix Laboratories, and obtained US FDA clearance for the manufacturing facilities in Hyderabad.[1] Matrix grew dramatically through a series of mergers and acquisitions. Prasad acquired Medicorp Technologies in May 2003, Vorin Labs in September 2003, Vera Laboratories, Fine Drugs & Chemicals the same year 2004 and a controlling stake in Concord Biotech in 2006. Prasad set his eyes on the global pharma-scape by acquiring Belgium-based Docpharma in June 2005, and a controlling stake in China's McChem Group. He also floated a JV South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare in September 2005, and picked 43% stake in Switzerland's Explora Laboratories SA the same year.

In 2006, Prasad sold off his majority shares in Matrix to Mylan Laboratories, USA, a large generic Pharmaceutical Company. From an initial investment of ₹3 crores,[26] Prasad retained 5% in Matrix, and made about ₹570 crores in the transaction in which Mylan picked up a 71.5% stake in Matrix laboratories.[18]

Prasad implemented his belief that `the best way to enhance knowledge and wealth is to share it' by sharing his personal wealth of 20-lakh shares worth around ₹30 crores with his staff for their housing and children's education through the Matrix Employees Welfare Association (MEWA).[27][28]

Clinton Foundation's Low cost HIV drugs initiative- Prasad's Matrix part of it.

He is known in the social world for his contribution through “Project Hope” in developing cost effective medicines for HIV/AIDS treatment.[29] Matrix signed a major deal with the Clinton Foundation for the supply of anti-AIDS drugs as part of the latter's initiatives in Developing Countries.[30][31][32]

Pullela Gopichand's unwavering commitment that made his academy a powerhouse of badminton was backed and part funded by Prasad.[33] In the early days when he was struggling to raise funds, Prasad saw the need to develop and encourage an alternative sport to Cricket and donated 5 crores to the Pullela Gopichand academy.[34] The academy produced world class players: Saina Nehwal, Srikanth Kidambi, Parupalli Kashyap, P. V. Sindhu, Arundhati Pantawane, Gurusai Datt and Arun Vishnu.

Subsequently, Prasad invested his capital in healthcare – CARE hospitals and Asian Institute of Gastroenterology. He also invested in stent manufacturer Relisys, and some genomic research-based companies. In the media business, he invested in MAA TV.

Prasad at TeachAIDS launch in 2010

Prasad was on the Executive Board of the Indian School of Business(ISB), Hyderabad, besides his association with several academic, research and business organisations. After his arrests, he had to resign from most such posts, such as the Indian School of Business.[35]

On 17 May 2012, Nimmagadda Prasad was questioned for several days and eventually arrested by the CBI. He was lodged in Chanchalguda jail, where he was always seen carrying a bottle of mineral water.[36] After several failed attempts, he was eventually granted bail after seventeen months, in October 2013.[37]

In March 2014, in one of the largest criminal actions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached about 15 billion of assets of Nimmangada Prasad and his companies: G2 corporate Services Ltd, Alpha villas Pvt Ltd, Alpha Avenues Pvt Ltd, Gilchrist Investment Pvt Ltd, Suguni Constructions Pvt Ltd and Beta Avenues Pvt Ltd.[38] ED claimed that Prasad had obtained illegal benefits of Rs 14261.7 million in his firms, and made the quid pro quo investment worth Rs 8545.4 million into Jagan Reddy's companies.

On 22 Sep 2016, Bahamas papers revealed that he has 28 secret companies at Secundrabad. Prasad and Prakash Nimmagadda, with interests in real estate to pharmaceuticals, is another set of names. Prasad is already being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in another case, which had also arrested him in May 2012, and got bail 17 months later, the newspaper said.

"I would not like to discuss this issue over phone. We can meet personally and talk about it. I will tell you everything," Prasad has been quoted as telling the Express. This was followed by calls by his office later canceling a total of three appointments that had been fixed, the Express said.

• Nimmagadda Foundation