Health and Healthcare

Jazz Pharma Pays $1.5 Billion for Celator

Thinkstock

Jazz Pharmaceuticals PLC (NASDAQ: JAZZ) announced Tuesday morning that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Celator Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CPXX) for $30.25 per share in cash. The deal reflects a premium of 72% to Celator’s closing price on Friday and totals about $1.5 billion.

Celator is preparing an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Vyxeos treatment for a form of leukemia known as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a new orphan drug.

Jazz expects to finance the transaction with a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under its senior secured credit facility. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of this year.

The deal is structured as a tender offer and second-step merger, and Jazz said that certain stockholders controlling about 18.4% of Celator’s stock have agreed to tender their shares in the offer.

Bruce Cozadd, chairman and CEO of Jazz, said:

Celator Pharmaceuticals is a strong strategic fit with Jazz Pharmaceuticals. VYXEOS will further diversify our product portfolio and is complementary to our clinical and commercial expertise in hematology/oncology. As Celator is currently preparing a regulatory submission in the U.S. for VYXEOS, this acquisition would add a new orphan product with the potential for short- and long-term revenue generation and expansion of our international commercial platform.

Celator CEO Scott Jackson added:

We believe that Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ clinical and commercial expertise in hematology/oncology and existing international infrastructure will help realize the value of VYXEOS as a treatment to patients with AML. After thoroughly evaluating our strategic options, our board of directors has unanimously determined that this all-cash transaction is in the best interest of our stockholders.

Celator’s shares traded up more than 71% in Tuesday’s premarket to $30.03, after closing at $17.53 on Friday. The stock’s 52-week range is $1.12 to $18.18.

Jazz stock traded down about 1.4%, at $150.00 in a 52-week range of $108.50 to $194.73.

The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)

Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.

A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.

 

Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!

By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.

By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.

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