Grifols has struck a preliminary deal with the FTC to shed some key blood-plasma assets in exchange for the agency's stamp of approval on its $4 billion buyout deal for Research Triangle Park-based Talecris Biotherapeutics. The merger will leave three key companies--Grifols, Baxter and CSL--in primary control of the world's blood-plasma products.
"We are happy about the announcement as it's a very significant step, but we still need to wait for the final approval," Deputy Chief Financial Officer Nuria Pascual tells Bloomberg. The agreement with antitrust regulators will get Grifols off the hook for a $375 million breakup fee it faced in the event the FTC nixed the deal.
The deal, which has to be approved by the FTC's five-member board, calls for Grifols to sell two plasma collection centers, Talecris's Koate blood-protein unit and a U.S. facility that Grifols will manage under a four-year lease agreement. Koate is used to treat hemophilia. Grifols, Talecris, Baxter and CSL have all collected plasma that is used to create a range of products.
- see the Grifols release
- check out the Reuters story
- and here's the report from Bloomberg