Pharmaceutical Business review

Church & Dwight takes over Avid Health

The transaction was completed substantially under the original terms, according to which Church & Dwight paid $650m in cash at closing.

The purchase price was financed with $400m in aggregate Senior Notes (2.875%) due 2022, commercial paper and cash, according to Church & Dwight.

Church & Dwight chairman and chief executive officer James Craigie said, "The acquisition of Avid’s gummy vitamins business represents a great addition to our existing portfolio and brings to our Company a new growth platform in one of the fastest-growing segments of the attractive vitamin / mineral / supplement category."

The acquisition is expected to be dilutive to 2012 earnings per share (approximately $0.02 per share) and accretive to both earnings and free cash flow in 2013, inclusive of transaction costs, acquisition-related expenses, the effect of an inventory step-up charge and intangible amortization expense.