Actavis Inc. And Warner Chilcott Enter $5 Billion Merger - Tokyo International

Online, August 6, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Warner Chilcott's focus on women's healthcare, dermatology and urology has produced an extensive product range of oral contraceptives Estrostep and Ovcon, as well as Doryx, a treatment for acne. Actavis is most widely known for its pain medication Percocet and it also manufactures generic birth control pills.

According to a spokesperson for the New Jersey based Actavis, reportedly in contact with Tokyo International, the deal is an all stock offering with Warner Chilcott shareholders receiving 0.16 shares in Actavis for each of their shares of Warner Chilcott.

The resulting $20.08 per share has a premium of 4.5 percent over the pre offer closing share price. Actavis will also take on over $3 billion of Warner Chilcott's debt, bringing the overall value of the transaction to over $8.5 billion.

"This really is the culmination of the Actavis strategy of building a global specialty pharmaceuticals company," according to Paul Bisaro, Actavis' CEO on a conference call with analysts. CFO Todd Joyce added on the same call that Actavis will now be the number one pharmaceutical company for women's health.

Actavis and Warner Chilcott combined will have annual revenues of around $11 billion, with Actavis also having products for the treatment of dermatology and gastroenterology as well as women's health products. Tokyo International apparently commented that there could also be a tax break worth $4 per share available to Actavis, as Warner Chilcott is incorporated in Ireland.

Warner Chilcott has disclosed over a year ago that is was seeking suitors; however a source at that time is believed to have told Tokyo International that they ended the process and decided on a special dividend and share buyback program, as they felt that would be more beneficial to shareholders.