Vifor Pharma Ltd to be acquired for CHF10.9bn

Rumours about a possible transaction between the two groups had already been circulating since the beginning of December. Now CSL Ltd and the Swiss specialist for iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies have confirmed that they have agreed on a takeover. For the acquisition to take place, at least 80% of CSL’s shares must be acquired. Vifor Pharma’s largest shareholder, Martin Ebner/Patinex AG, with 23.2%, has already signalled its agreement to sell.

CSL has offered to acquire Vifor Pharma in an all-cash tender offer of CHF167 per share. The offer assumes a dividend of CHF2 representing an implied premium of approximately 61% to the unaffected closing price of Vifor Pharma on 1 December 2021. After speculation arose in December that the Australians were interested in a takeover of Vifor Pharma, the latter’s shares rose by a whopping 35 per cent.

The tender is currently expected to commence around 18 January 2022 and the transaction is expected to complete around mid-2022. After analysts explained they didn’t see many synergies between both companies, Vifor and CSL explained that the transaction will enable Vifor Pharma to leverage CSL’s global reach, balance sheet and capabilities to bring [7] more products to patients within its key categories. The transaction would also enable Vifor Pharma to accelerate growth in cardiovascular-metabolic, renal and transplant.