CSL gains iron and kidney products, plus innovative pipeline, in $11.7B Vifor takeout

CSL is seeking to add an innovative pipeline as well as marketed products for iron deficiency and nephrology via its $11.7 billion takeout of Vifor, diversifying the Australian biopharma’s holdings beyond its strengths in plasma products and vaccines.

CSL Ltd. (ASX:CSL) said Tuesday it had entered a tender offer under which it will pay $179.25 per share to acquire Vifor Pharma Ltd. (SIX:VIFN). At an equivalent value of about CHF167 per share, CSL would pay a premium of roughly 19% over Vifor’s closing price Monday of CHF140.30. However, published reports of rumors that a deal was imminent had already driven the share price upward; it had closed at CHF103.80 on Dec. 1, and had hovered near CHF120 for most of the month...