Takeda Reaches Tentative $64 Billion Buyout Deal for Shire

In the largest proposed acquisition in the pharma sector in almost two decades, Shire tentatively accepted a $64 billion offer from Takeda, subject to agreement from its shareholders.

The deal would be second only to Pfizer’s $90 billion purchase of Warner-Lambert in 2000.

Upon completion of the deal, Shire shareholders would own around 50 percent of the enlarged Takeda.

Shire’s board said it would recommend the revised proposal to its shareholders as long as there was satisfactory resolution of the offer’s other terms, including  the required due diligence steps.

Shire specializes in treatments for rare diseases including hemophilia products that make up about a quarter of the company’s global revenues of about $3.6 billion per year.