OSAKA, Japan & CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TOKYO:4502) (“Takeda”) today announced the commencement of the cash tender offer by its wholly-owned indirect subsidiary, Kiku Merger Co., Inc., for all outstanding shares of the common stock of ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARIA) (“ARIAD”) at $24.00 per share. The tender offer is being made in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger which Takeda and ARIAD announced on January 9, 2017.
Upon successful closing of the tender offer, stockholders of ARIAD will receive $24.00 in cash, net of applicable withholding taxes and without interest, for each share of ARIAD stock. Following the purchase of shares in the tender offer, ARIAD will become an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda.
On January 19, 2017 (Eastern Time), Takeda filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a tender offer statement on Schedule TO, which provides the terms of the tender offer. Additionally, ARIAD filed with the SEC a solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 that includes the recommendation of the ARIAD board of directors that ARIAD stockholders accept the tender offer and tender their shares.
The tender offer is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, unless extended. The closing of the tender offer is subject to customary terms and conditions, including the tender of a number of shares which, together with shares then owned by Takeda (if any), represents a majority of the outstanding shares, and the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.
Copies of the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other materials related to the tender offer may be obtained for free from the Information Agent, MacKenzie Partners, Inc., toll-free at 800-322-2885 or collect at (212) 929-5500. The Depositary for the tender offer is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company
Takeda Pharmaceutical
Company Limited is a global, research and development-driven
pharmaceutical company committed to bringing better health and a
brighter future to patients by translating science into life-changing
medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on oncology, gastroenterology
and central nervous system therapeutic areas plus vaccines. Takeda
conducts R&D both internally and with partners to stay at the leading
edge of innovation. New innovative products, especially in oncology and
gastroenterology, as well as our presence in Emerging Markets, fuel the
growth of Takeda. More than 30,000 Takeda employees are committed to
improving quality of life for patients, working with our partners in
health care in more than 70 countries. Additional information about
Takeda is available through its corporate website, www.Takeda.com.
Additional Information
This press release is provided for
informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase
or the solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. Takeda and its
wholly owned subsidiary, Kiku Merger Co., Inc., have filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Tender Offer Statement
on Schedule TO containing an offer to purchase, a form of letter of
transmittal and other documents relating to the tender offer, and ARIAD
has filed with the SEC a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on
Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the tender offer. Takeda, Kiku Merger
Co., Inc. and ARIAD intend to mail these documents to the ARIAD
stockholders. Investors and shareholders should read those filings
carefully as they contain important information about the tender offer.
Those documents may be obtained without charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
The offer to purchase and related materials may also be obtained for
free by contacting the information agent for the tender offer.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
document contains forward-looking information related to Takeda, ARIAD
and the proposed acquisition of ARIAD by Takeda that involves
substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements.
These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are
predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or
conditions, and include words such as “believes,” “plans,”
“anticipates,” “projects,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,”
“strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,”
“potential,” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this
document include, among other things, statements about the potential
benefits of the proposed acquisition, anticipated earnings accretion and
growth rates, Takeda’s and ARIAD’s plans, objectives, expectations and
intentions, the financial condition, results of operations and business
of Takeda and ARIAD, ARIAD’s products, ARIAD’s pipeline assets, and the
anticipated timing of closing of the acquisition. Risks and
uncertainties include, among other things, risks related to the
satisfaction of the conditions to closing the acquisition (including the
failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals) in the anticipated
timeframe or at all, including uncertainties as to how many of ARIAD’s
stockholders will tender their shares in the tender offer and the
possibility that the acquisition does not close; risks related to the
ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition,
including the possibility that the expected benefits from the proposed
acquisition will not be realized or will not be realized within the
expected time period; the risk that the businesses will not be
integrated successfully; disruption from the transaction making it more
difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; negative
effects of this announcement or the consummation of the proposed
acquisition on the market price of Takeda’s common stock and on Takeda’s
operating results; significant transaction costs; unknown liabilities;
the risk of litigation and/or regulatory actions related to the proposed
acquisition; other business effects, including the effects of industry,
market, economic, political or regulatory conditions; future exchange
and interest rates; changes in tax and other laws, regulations, rates
and policies; future business combinations or disposals; the
uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the
ability to sustain and increase the rate of growth in revenues for
ARIAD’s products despite increasing competitive, reimbursement and
economic challenges; whether and when any drug applications may be filed
in any jurisdictions for any indications or any additional indications
for ARIAD’s products or for ARIAD’s pipeline assets; whether and when
the FDA or any other applicable regulatory authorities may approve any
such applications, which will depend on its assessment of the
benefit-risk profile suggested by the totality of the efficacy and
safety information submitted; decisions by the FDA or other regulatory
authorities regarding labeling and other matters that could affect the
availability or commercial potential of ARIAD’s products and ARIAD’s
pipeline assets; and competitive developments. Other factors that may
cause actual results to differ materially include those set forth in the
Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO and other tender offer documents
filed by Takeda and Merger Sub.
Many of these factors are beyond Takeda’s control. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, Takeda disclaims any intention or obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this document as the result of new information or future events or developments.