EQT AB agreed to buy Dechra Pharmaceuticals Plc for about £4.46 billion ($5.6 billion), negotiating a lower price after the UK veterinary drugmaker made a profit warning in the middle of takeover talks.
(Bloomberg) — EQT AB agreed to buy Dechra Pharmaceuticals Plc for about £4.46 billion ($5.6 billion), negotiating a lower price after the UK veterinary drugmaker made a profit warning in the middle of takeover talks.
Under terms of the recommended cash offer, the Swedish buyout firm will pay Dechra investors 3,875 pence a share, according to a statement on Friday that confirmed a Bloomberg News report. That’s 4.8% lower than the bid price of 4,070 pence the companies were originally discussing.
Shares in Dechra closed up 1% in London on Thursday at 3,374 pence, giving it a market value of £3.8 billion.
Dechra said in mid-April it was in talks with EQT about a possible, all-cash bid valuing the company at about £4.6 billion. The two sides had been discussing a possible price reduction since Dechra warned on May 22 that underlying operating profit would be below a previous forecast due to a “more volatile and challenging” environment, people with knowledge of the matter said.
Deadline Extended
Dechra on May 11 extended the deadline to June 2 for EQT to announce a firm offer, in line with UK takeover rules. The private equity arm of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is set to be a co-investor in the deal, EQT has said previously.
The acquisition comes as private equity dealmaking has slowed amid a dearth of cheap funding for such transactions. Dechra is a global veterinary supplies company that is best known for making drugs for pets such as dogs, cats and rabbits. It also makes products for horses, cattle and pigs.
“With medical innovation accelerating and pet ownership increasing, the animal health sector is expected to benefit from long-term growth and we believe Dechra is well positioned to participate in this significant opportunity,” Anthony Santospirito, a partner at EQT, said in a statement on Friday.
EQT is an acquisitive firm that has been active in the veterinary market. It’s the largest shareholder in IVC Evidensia, one of the biggest veterinary service providers in Europe. It also has invested in online retailer ZooPlus and pet insurer ManyPets.
Bank of America Corp. and Morgan Stanley advised EQT on the deal, while Investec Bank Plc worked with Dechra.
(Adds EQT statement in seventh paragraph, advisers in final paragraph.)
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