Merck to pay around $11bn for Prometheus

BY Richard Summerfield

Pharma giant Merck has agreed to acquire biotech company Prometheus Biosciences in a deal worth $10.8bn.

Under the terms of the deal, Merck will pay $200 per share for Prometheus, representing a 75.4 percent premium to Prometheus’ last closing price before the deal was announced.

Prometheus is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing and commercialising novel therapeutic and companion diagnostic products for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases.

The acquisition of Prometheus will go some way toward replacing the huge revenue stream generated by Keytruda, which is likely to start fading early next decade as it loses its patents. Keytruda is used in cancer immunotherapy that treats melanoma, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, stomach cancer, cervical cancer, and certain types of breast cancer.

“At Merck, we are committed to delivering on our purpose to save and improve lives and continue to identify and secure opportunities where compelling science and value creation align,” said Robert M. Davis, chairman and chief executive of Merck. “The agreement with Prometheus will accelerate our growing presence in immunology where there remains substantial unmet patient need. This transaction adds diversity to our overall portfolio and is an important building block as we strengthen the sustainable innovation engine that will drive our growth well into the next decade.”

“Prometheus was established to revolutionize the treatment of immune-mediated diseases through the application of a powerful precision medicine approach,” said Mark McKenna, chairman and chief executive of Prometheus Biosciences. “This agreement with Merck, a leader in biopharmaceutical research and development, allows Prometheus to maximize the potential for PRA023, while continuing to apply our technology and expertise to fuel further discoveries to address the needs of patients with immune disorders.”

“By applying a portfolio of powerful analytic tools to a comprehensive collection of IBD samples, Prometheus identified important disease insights that have now yielded a promising late-stage candidate,” said Dean Y. Li, president of Merck Research Laboratories. “I look forward to working with the talented Prometheus team to establish a new paradigm of precision treatment for immune diseases.” 

News: Merck to buy Prometheus Biosciences for about $11 billion

Global M&A activity to resurge in 2023, claims new report

BY Fraser Tennant

A stronger period for private equity (PE) and M&A deal activity is on the horizon following months of macroeconomic turmoil, according to a new report by BMS.

In its ‘Private Equity, M&A and Tax 2023’ report, which provides a comprehensive analysis of trends in the European, North American and Asian M&A markets, BMS suggests that while deal volumes have fallen compared to the high levels achieved in 2021 and early 2022, activity will bounce back toward the latter half of 2023,  

This optimism comes despite an M&A landscape impacted by various macro developments, including the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, war in Ukraine, concerns around recession, higher interest rates to curb inflation and risks associated with the recent banking crisis.

“2023 has gotten off to a subdued start compared the deal activity levels seen over the past two years,” said Tan Pawar, head of private equity and M&A at BMS. “However, momentum is growing, and we have not seen a decrease in enquiries from companies eager to obtain M&A insurance.”

Among a number of key findings, the BMS report found that: (i) a growing appetite remains in the M&A insurance market, with a 40 percent growth in insurance products purchased over the past 24 months; (ii) there has been an uptick in claims from policies underwritten during the pre-2022 M&A boom, resulting in reinsurers looking to manage risk to a much greater degree; (iii) although European M&A activity tailed off in the latter half of 2022, the tax insurance market saw a record number of enquiries; and (iv) the secondaries market remained active in 2022, with total transaction volume exceeding $100bn for the second year running.

The report also suggests that against the backdrop of an increasingly challenging macroeconomic environment and a  potential global recession in 2023, distressed sales could increase.  

Mr Pawar concluded: “With market conditions expected to stabilise, we should see a resurgence in deal activity by the end of the second quarter and into the second half of 2023.”

Report: Private Equity, M&A and Tax 2023

Enel sells Peruvian assets to CSGI in $2.9bn deal

BY Fraser Tennant

In a deal valued at $2.9bn, Italian multinational manufacturer and distributor of electricity and gas Enel Group is to sell its equity stakes in two Peruvian assets to power grid company China Southern Power Grid International (CSGI).

Under the terms of the agreement, CSGI will acquire Enel Perú’s equity stakes in Enel Distribución Perú S.A.A. (equal to around 83.15 percent of the share capital) and Enel X Perú S.A.C. (equal to 100 percent of the share capital).

The overall transaction is expected to generate a reduction of Enel Group’s consolidated net debt of approximately €3.1bn in 2023 and a positive impact for 2023 on reported group net income amounting to approximately €500m.

The transaction is in line with the group’s current strategic plan, which envisages the completion of group repositioning on six core countries, namely Italy, Spain, the US, Brazil, Chile and Colombia, in order to enhance value creation.

“With this transaction, we are able to maximise the value of the investments carried out so far in grid digitalisation and advanced energy services in Peru,” said Francesco Starace, group chief executive and general manager of Enel Group. “It is thanks to the expertise and dedication of colleagues that we leave buyers with an excellent set of assets, which will continue to drive the sustainable development of the country through automated digital networks and innovative energy solutions.”

The closing of the sale is subject to certain conditions precedent customary for these kinds of transactions, including clearance from the competent antitrust authority in Peru and approvals of competent Chinese authorities for outbound direct investments (ODI).

A leading energy player in Peru since 2007, the Enel Group operates in power distribution and supply with around 1.5 million end users in northern Lima. The group in Peru also operates in the generation business, with more than 2GW of installed capacity, nearly half of which from renewables, in the distributed generation and energy efficiency segments and in the e-mobility segment.

Mr Starace concluded: “We continue to implement the asset disposal plan announced to the markets during the presentation of Enel’s strategic plan last November and aimed at finalising the Group’s streamlining process that has always been a cornerstone of our strategy.”

News: Enel agrees to sell two Peruvian assets to China's CSGI for $2.9 bln

Sartorius acquires Polyplus in €2.4bn deal

BY Fraser Tennant

In a deal designed to strengthen its activities supplying cell and gene therapy companies, life science group Sartorius is to acquire French drugmaker Polyplus from private investors for approximately €2.4bn.

To finance the acquisition, Sartorius will receive a bridge loan facility from JP Morgan for a transitional period. Sartorius intends to refinance this loan with long-term financing instruments which might also include an equity component.

Founded in 2001 and based in Strasbourg, France, Polyplus has locations in France, Belgium, the US and China. The company has been expanding its focus beyond transfection reagents through acquisitions in adjacent technologies like plasmid design, and protein and plasmid manufacturing, broadening its upstream portfolio for gene therapies as well as gene-modified cell therapies.

“The innovative solutions of Polyplus are highly complementary to our portfolio, in particular to our offering of cell culture media and critical components for the development and manufacture of advanced therapies,” said René Fáber, member of the executive board and head of the bioprocess solutions division at Sartorius. “There are also strong synergies with our portfolio of downstream solutions for the manufacture of gene therapeutics.”

The combination of Sartorius’ and Polyplus’ portfolios creates a unique ability to optimise the total process workflow to deliver unparalleled value for cell and gene therapy customers, in an effort to make these critical therapies more affordable.

“This acquisition is a major milestone in the history of Polyplus, and a recognition of its innovative upstream market leadership position and our highly talented Polyplus teams around the world,” said Mario Philips, chief executive of Polyplus. “We would be excited to join forces with a world class bioprocess market leader as Sartorius.”

The transaction – which is expected to close during the third quarter of 2023 – is subject to customary conditions, including completion of the information and consultation of the works’ council and approval by regulatory authorities.

Mr Faber concluded: “As a leading supplier of critical components to produce cell and gene therapies, Sartorius and Polyplus together will be excellently positioned to play a significant role in the dynamic field of cell and gene therapy.”

News: Sartorius to buy Polyplus for 2.4 bln euros

Crescent Point acquires Spartan Delta assets in $1.7bn cash deal

BY Fraser Tennant

Despite current volatility in oil prices, oil and gas company Crescent Point Energy Corp. is to acquire the oil and liquids-rich Montney assets in Alberta of fellow energy company Spartan Delta Corp. in a deal valued at $1.7bn.

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Spartan shareholders are expected to receive $9.50 per common share through the deal with Crescent Point, which is the second sizeable acquisition among Canadian explorers and producers this year after 2022 saw a drop in deals due to volatile oil prices.

The all-cash deal will see Calgary-based Crescent Point acquire 600 drilling locations in the Montney region, adding 38,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day to the company's production inventory.

The transaction also significantly grows Crescent Point’s presence in what is one of North America's largest unconventional petroleum resources, and immediately boosts excess cash flow per share by 20 percent.

“Over the past five years, we have fundamentally rebuilt and strengthened Crescent Point,” said Craig Bryksa, president and chief executive of Crescent Point. “As a result of our efforts, and after closing this transaction, our asset base will include significant inventory depth in both the Kaybob Duvernay and the Montney, while also maintaining significant low-decline assets in Saskatchewan that provide additional excess cash flow.”

Following the sale, Spartan intends to develop its remaining Alberta Deep Basin assets and spin off a portion of its remaining production to build a new growth-focused Montney junior company called Logan Energy Corp. with assets in Alberta and British Columbia.

“This transaction sees the successful conclusion of our strategic repositioning process with our core Montney development asset sale, the creation of a new growth-focused Montney junior company and the retention of our sustainable Free Funds Flow and dividend generating assets in the Deep Basin,” said Fotis Kalantzis, president and chief executive of Spartan. “I thank our shareholders, employees, board, stakeholders, and other supporters who helped cultivate this successful outcome.”

The transaction is anticipated to close during second quarter 2023, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Mr Bryska concluded: “The Montney acquisition is immediately accretive to our per share metrics, enhances our return of capital to shareholders and is aligned with our long-term strategy to focus on high quality, scalable resource plays that meet our defined asset criteria.”

News: Crescent Point Energy to buy Spartan Delta's Montney assets for $1.2 bln