One of the hottest takeover rumors circulating in the global biotech scene started to sizzle as a Japanese business newspaper reported that Takeda was preparing to announce today that it had wrapped a $13 billion-or-so buyout deal for Switzerland's Nycomed. But once again Takeda cooled things down with a release stating that no such pact had been inked--yet.
"Takeda would like to make clear that Takeda has not agreed to any such an agreement, and accordingly, has not decided to make an announcement as reported by certain media publications," the company stated. "In addition, Takeda has a policy of not commenting on any rumors regarding our business."
The business press has been popping with rumors and insider accounts claiming that Takeda, which bought out Millennium in Boston for $8 billion, now has Nycomed in its sights. And the Nikkei business daily's report that the Japanese pharma company was preparing to announce that the one trillion yen deal was done spread like wildfire across the Internet.
Nikkei reported that the deal was being sought to give Takeda a better position in hot emerging drug markets in places like Eastern Europe. Takeda, like several other Japanese pharma companies, has been avidly seeking new avenues to expand its business. And they have the cash on hand to execute some blockbuster deals. Takeda's statement today may cool speculation about an imminent release, but its careful language will leave tongues wagging and business reporters in hot pursuit of a new insider account of the buyout talks.
- see the release
- here's the story from Reuters