Biocon’s biosimilar boost

BY Richard Summerfield

A unit of Indian drug manufacturer Biocon Ltd has agreed to acquire Viatris Inc’s biosimilars business in a deal worth $3.34bn.

Under the terms of the deal, Viatris will receive up to $2.34bn in cash, and convertible shares in the unit Biocon Biologics worth $1bn.

The deal, which is expected to close in the second half of 2022, will see the cash portion of the transaction funded through an $800m equity commitment in Biocon Biologics, with the remainder being funded through debt.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw will continue as the executive chairperson of Biocon Biologics. Viatris will nominate Rajiv Malik, president of Viatris, to serve on the Biocon Biologics board.

The two companies had built collaborations on multiple biosimilar products before Viatris formed from Mylan’s acquisition of Pfizer’s Upjohn established medicines business. Biocon has been responsible for research and development (R&D) and manufacturing under the terms of their old partnership, however the company is now buying Viatris’ commercial capabilities.

“By combining the biosimilars business of Viatris to create a global, vertically integrated business in BBL, we are confident of unlocking significant value for our stakeholders,” said Dr Arun Chandavarkar, managing director of Biocon Biologics. “This deal gives BBL full ownership of Viatris’ rights in biosimilars assets, enabling us to recognize combined revenues and profits. To ensure a seamless transition and continued service to patients and customers, Viatris will provide commercial and other transition services to BBL for an expected period of two years.

“This deal provides several advantages, including strategic agility and operational efficiencies, which will help us mitigate pricing pressures in a competitive global biosimilars landscape,” he continued. “We remain committed to sustainable growth with a strong financial profile, expanded geographical reach and continued investments in R&D to build a world-leading biosimilars franchise. We believe that as a fully integrated global company, we will be able to enhance patient access and reduce healthcare inequities worldwide.”

“Our unique collaboration with Biocon began more than a decade ago, even before a biosimilars pathway was defined in most countries,” said Robert J. Coury, executive chairman of Viatris. “During that time, we have experienced many successes, and today is no exception as we join together to create a new, uniquely positioned world class vertically integrated biosimilars leader. This transaction will allow Viatris to continue to participate in the global biosimilars space in a more optimized way, while also allowing us to accelerate our own financial priorities.”

News: India's Biocon beefs up biosimilar portfolio with $3.34 bln Viatris deal, shares fall

Biohaven commits to new epilepsy treatments via $1.24bn acquisition

BY Fraser Tennant

Adding the latest advances in ion-channel modulation to its growing neuroscience portfolio, US neuroscience drug developer Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd has acquired Channel Biosciences, LLC, a subsidiary of Knopp Biosciences LLC and its Kv7 channel targeting platform, in a deal valued at $1.24bn.

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Biohaven will make an upfront payment comprised of $65m in Biohaven common shares and $35m in cash to Knopp Biosciences. Biohaven has also agreed to make additional success-based earnout payments.

The Kv7 platform – which provides for the treatment of epilepsy and other neurologic disorders – has been developed and refined for over a decade by a team with deep experience in ion-channel science led by Michael Bozik, chief executive of Channel Biosciences and Knopp Biosciences, and Steven Dworetzky, chief scientific officer at Knopp Biosciences.  

Moreover, the acquisition of the Kv7 platform, along with lead asset BHV-7000, demonstrates Biohaven's continued commitment to neurology and to meeting the unmet needs of these patients. Biohaven intends to bring BHV-7000 to the clinic in 2022, with focal epilepsy as the lead indication for development.

According to the World Health Organization, epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder, affecting more than 50 million people worldwide.

"Kv7 modulators have demonstrated clear efficacy in the clinic but have been limited by off-target effects,” said Mr Bozik. “Our team has developed a portfolio of what we believe are potentially best-in-class Kv7 modulators to deliver novel therapies across several different indications.

“We are proud that Biohaven recognises the potential of this platform,” he continued. “Biohaven was the clear partner of choice, given their demonstrated leadership in neurology and excellence in both developing and commercialising paradigm-shifting treatments for patients."

Upon completion of the transaction, members of Channel Biosciences' scientific team will join Biohaven, adding world-leading ion-channel scientists and driving its mission for bringing novel medicines to patients facing neurologic and neuropsychiatric diseases.

Mr Dworetsky concluded: “We are excited to join Biohaven to accelerate clinical development of BHV-7000 and other drug candidates from our ion channel platform."

News: Biohaven Inks Up To $1.24B Deal For Epilepsy Drug Biz - Law360

Broadcaster Tegna goes private in $5.4bn Standard General deal

BY Fraser Tennant

In a move that takes the broadcaster private, Tegna Inc. is to be acquired by investment firm Standard General in an all-cash transaction valued at $5.4bn.

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Standard General will acquire Tegna for $24 per share in cash. The transaction has been unanimously approved by Tegna’s board of directors.

Upon completion, Tegna will become a private company and its shares will no longer be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

“This transaction is the next step in Tegna’s evolution and recognises the value of our portfolio of leading broadcast assets and innovative digital brands,” said Dave Lougee, president and chief executive of Tegna. “We are deeply gratified that Tegan’s new owners value and embrace our purpose to serve the greater good of our communities.”

With 64 television stations in 51 US markets, Tegna is the largest owner of top four network affiliates in the top 25 markets among independent station groups. The company also owns multicast networks True Crime Network, Twist and Quest.

“As long-term investors in the television broadcasting industry, we have a deep admiration for Tegna and the stations it operates,” said Soo Kim, founding partner of Standard General. “We believe Tegna has a strong foundation and exciting prospects for continued growth as a result of the stewardship of the board and the current management team. We look forward to building on the company’s strong foundation and leveraging its deep industry experience to drive further growth.”

Deb McDermott, previously chief executive of Standard Media Group, will become chief executive and Mr Kim will serve as chairman of a new board upon the close of the transaction.

The transaction is subject to approval by Tegna shareholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the second half of 2022.

Ms McDermott concluded: “Tegna’s stations have earned excellent reputations as leading local content providers and our digital and content assets are a key part of its future in an evolving media landscape.”

News: Standard General to take U.S. broadcaster Tegna private in $5.4 billion deal

Celanese Corp to acquire DuPont unit for $11bn

BY Richard Summerfield

DuPont has agreed to sell most of its mobility and materials unit, including its engineering polymers business line and select product lines within the performance resins and advanced solutions business lines, to Celanese Corporation for $11bn in cash.

The deal, which will see roughly 5000 employees and 29 manufacturing sites move to Celanese, is expected to close around the end of the year, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

The DuPont businesses, which the company earmarked for sale back in November, had total 2021 revenues of $3.5bn and profits before taxes of $800m. The purchase will be a major acquisition for Celanese, which earned $2.8bn before taxes on $8.5bn in revenues in 2021, and will more than double the its engineered materials unit, which had $2.7bn in turnover in 2021.

“The transaction with Celanese that we are announcing today will create a market-leading portfolio serving the automotive, consumer and industrial markets with unmatched scale, manufacturing capability and technical expertise,” said Ed Breen, executive chairman and chief executive of DuPont. “We are proud of the strength of these industry-leading businesses, which we believe will be even stronger when combined with the highly complementary portfolio of Celanese. We are excited for Celanese to partner with the team and we are confident that together they will continue to drive industry-defining material science innovation to serve customers and the value chain.”

“We are excited to welcome our future colleagues from DuPont who have built a world-class product and technology portfolio which is highly regarded in the industry,” said Lori Ryerkerk, chairman and chief executive of Celanese. “Our businesses are highly complementary which will accelerate our growth in high-value applications including future mobility, connectivity and medical.”

The acquisition is expected to complement existing Celanese product lines in polyacetal, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, liquid crystal polymers and polyphenylene sulfide. DuPont’s nylon and PBT polymer production will back integrate Celanese’s compounding operations in those businesses. The unit will also extend Celanese’s reach in Asia, helping the company recover some of the presence in the region it relinquished when it sold its stake in the Polyplastics engineering polymer joint venture with Japan’s Daicel. Celanese expects to achieve $450m worth of synergies by integrating DuPont’s polymer businesses with its own within the first four years of deal close.

DuPont plans to use the proceeds of the sale to pay for its pending $5.2bn purchase of the electronic materials producer Rogers Corp, and to finance further acquisitions and share buybacks.

News: DuPont to shed mobility and materials unit in $11 bln Celanese deal

MoneyGram to be taken private in $1.8bn deal

BY Richard Summerfield

Private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners has agreed to take MoneyGram International private in a deal worth $1.8bn.

Madison Dearborn will acquire all outstanding shares of MoneyGram for $11 per share in an all-cash transaction. The purchase price represents a premium of approximately 50 percent to MoneyGram's closing stock price on 14 December 2021, the last trading day prior to media speculation regarding a possible deal.

The transaction, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval, will see Madison Dearborn refinance MoneyGram’s outstanding debt, which was $799m as of 31 December 2021. Madison Dearborn has secured committed debt financing for the transaction from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Barclays.

"We are excited to enter into this transaction with MDP, which will deliver immediate and compelling value to shareholders and enable us to accelerate the advancement of our digital growth strategy,” said Alex Holmes, chairman and chief executive of MoneyGram. “This transaction is the culmination of a thorough process by the MoneyGram Board to enhance shareholder value while positioning our business for continued growth and expansion."

“MoneyGram has undergone a rapid transformation over the last several years to expand our digital capabilities and adapt to the evolving needs of our customers,” he continued. “By partnering with MDP and becoming a private company, we will have greater opportunities to innovate and transform MoneyGram to lead the industry in cross-border payment technology and deliver a more expansive set of digital offerings, while leveraging our global platform for new customers and use cases. This transaction provides exciting opportunities for our dedicated MoneyGram team and partners, and I'm incredibly excited about the path ahead.”

“MoneyGram is a leader in cross-border payments with one of the strongest brands and reputations in the industry, and we are excited to partner with Alex and his leadership team as they continue to lead MoneyGram's digital growth strategy,” said Vahe Dombalagian, a managing director at Madison Dearborn. “We are looking forward to applying our substantial experience growing digital businesses and deep payments knowledge to help MoneyGram further strengthen its market-leading cross-border capabilities and enhance its digital platform.”

MoneyGram was almost acquired in 2017 by China’s Ant Financial but the $1.2bn agreement was blocked by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

News: Buyout firm Madison Dearborn to take MoneyGram private in $1.8 billion deal