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Pfizer seals $160bn Allergan takeover Pfizer seals $160bn Allergan deal to create drugs giant
(35 minutes later)
US drugs giant Pfizer has agreed a deal to buy Botox-maker Allergan for $160bn (£106bn), making this the biggest pharmaceuticals deal in history. US drugs giant Pfizer has sealed a deal to buy Botox-maker Allergan for $160bn (£106bn) in what is the biggest pharmaceuticals deal in history.
The merger will create the world's biggest drugmaker, to be called Pfizer. The takeover could allow Pfizer to escape relatively high US corporate tax rates by moving its headquarters to Allergan's headquarters in Dublin.
Allergan shareholders will receive 11.3 shares in the merged company for each of their Allergan shares. The merged firm will be the world's biggest drug maker by sales.
Analysts have suggested the deal will allow Pfizer to escape relatively high US corporate tax rates by moving its headquarters to Dublin. Allergan shareholders will receive 11.3 shares in the new company for each of their Allergan shares.
Last year, Pfizer made an offer to buy UK drugs group AstraZeneca, which rejected the offer, arguing it undervalued the company.Last year, Pfizer made an offer to buy UK drugs group AstraZeneca, which rejected the offer, arguing it undervalued the company.
'Strength to deliver''Strength to deliver'
The merged business will be called Pfizer Plc. The companies said they expected the deal to be completed in the second half of 2016, subject to regulatory approval in the US the and in Europe.
Pfizer said is expects the merger would see $2bn in savings in the first three years of combined operation.
Pfizer boss Ian Read will be chief executive and chairman of the merged company, with Allergan boss Brent Saunders becoming president and chief operating officer.Pfizer boss Ian Read will be chief executive and chairman of the merged company, with Allergan boss Brent Saunders becoming president and chief operating officer.
"The proposed combination of Pfizer and Allergan will create a leading global pharmaceutical company with the strength to research, discover and deliver more medicines and more therapies to more people around the world," said Mr Read."The proposed combination of Pfizer and Allergan will create a leading global pharmaceutical company with the strength to research, discover and deliver more medicines and more therapies to more people around the world," said Mr Read.
A finalised deal would be the latest in a series of mergers and acquisitions in the sector, as pharmaceuticals companies struggle to cope with patents on a number of major drugs expiring, while a better understanding of genetics and disease has led to more targeted medicines with a smaller market. Critically, the terms of the deal propose that the merged company will maintain Allergan's Irish domicile. This means the profits of the new company would be subject to corporation tax of 12.5%, much lower than the 35% Pfizer is currently subject to in the US.
Explaining Allergan's motives, Mr Saunders said: "This bold action is the next chapter in the successful transformation of Allergan, allowing us to operate with greater resources at a much bigger scale."
The deal is the latest in a series of mergers and acquisitions in the sector, as pharmaceuticals companies struggle to cope with patents on a number of major drugs expiring.