Icelandic generics company Actavis has received a takeover bid from an investment firm led by its chairman for approximately $4.5 billion.
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Actavis’ chairman Bjorgolfur Thor Bjorgolfsson is making the bid through investment vehicle Novator and is offering E0.98 per class A share, valuing the company at E3.3 billion, or $4.5 billion, and represents a 9% premium to the company’s closing price on the day before the offer was made. Parties related to Novator currently hold approximately 38.5% of total A class shares, the company said.
Actavis said that its board would review the offer as soon as feasible and make its recommendation to shareholders.
In a statement on the Icelandic stock exchange, Mr Bjorgolfsson said: “Consolidation is continuously gaining pace, competition for leading positions in key markets is becoming ever more fierce, and pricing pressures continue to intensify.
“In such an environment, Novator views it as important for the successful future growth of the company that it is taken private. In that way, it is no longer restrained by the obligations and requirements which are placed on listed companies, including that of disclosure.”
Actavis recently dropped out of the race to acquire the generic drugs arm of Germany’s Merck KGaA. Last year, the company also missed out on acquiring Croatian drug firm Pliva, which was bought by Barr Pharmaceuticals.
Thor Bjorgolfsson, the largest shareholder in Actavis and Iceland’s first billionaire, initially invested in the company in 2000 when his investment vehicle Amber International bought 15% of the company through the stock exchange. Mr Bjorgolfsson has been building his stake since, and Amber International currently controls 34.95% of Actavis shares.