Health and Healthcare

Meda Shareholder Blocks Mylan's Second Takeover Bid

Shares of Mylan Inc. (NASDAQ: MYL) retreated first thing Monday morning, after the generic drugmaker’s sweetened bid for Swedish drugmaker Meda was rejected.

The latest bid is said to have valued Meda at around $6.7 billion, or a premium of about 50% over Meda’s share price before news of Mylan’s original approach earlier this month. At issue for the Meda board was that the company’s largest shareholder, Stena Sessan Rederi AB did not back the deal. Meda’s chairman, Bert-Ake Eriksson, is also the CEO of shipping company Stena Sessan Rederi, which is controlled by the Olsson business family and holds a 22.77% stake in Meda.

Though the board said it was confident in Meda’s future as an independent company, the maker of over-the-counter drugs and branded generics has long been viewed as a takeover target, due in part to its new allergy medicine Dymista and to its growth in emerging markets.

Mylan was believed to be looking to expand its respiratory treatment business, to gain a foothold in Russia and perhaps to reduce its tax burden by relocating its headquarters abroad. Back in December it expanded overseas by acquiring India’s Agila Specialties for $1.6 billion.

Mylan shares were down 3.7% in Monday morning trading, at $50.16 in a 52-week range of $27.77 to $57.52.

ALSO READ: America’s Most (and Least) Healthy Cities

It’s Your Money, Your Future—Own It (sponsor)

Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? For families with more than $500,000 saved for retirement, finding a financial advisor who puts your interest first can be the difference, and today it’s easier than ever. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three fiduciary financial advisors who serve your area in minutes. Each advisor has been carefully vetted and must act in your best interests. Start your search now.

If you’ve saved and built a substantial nest egg for you and your family, don’t delay; get started right here and help your retirement dreams become a retirement reality.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.

AI Portfolio

Discover Our Top AI Stocks

Our expert who first called NVIDIA in 2009 is predicting 2025 will see a historic AI breakthrough.

You can follow him investing $500,000 of his own money on our top AI stocks for free.