$98.9 billion bid on the anvil as Pfizer zeros on AstraZeneca

US drugmaker Pfizer is working on its next move in a potential $100 billion battle for Britain’s AstraZeneca, as deal-making grips the healthcare industry.

Pfizer said on Monday it made a 58.8 billion pounds ($98.9 billion) bid approach to AstraZeneca in January and had contacted its British rival again on April 26, seeking to further discuss a takeover.

Under British takeover rules, Pfizer has until May 26 to announce a firm intention to make an offer or back away.

“Society wants products faster, they want more products and they want value,” Pfizer CEO Ian Read said.

AstraZeneca said Pfizer’s offer undervalued the company “very significantly,” adding that Pfizer wanted to pay 70 per cent in shares and only 30 per cent in cash. AstraZeneca urged its shareholders to take no action and said it remained confident of its independent strategy.

PHARMALEADERS

Pharmaleaders is India’s first opinion based & research driven bi-monthly magazine & has a decade of relentless reporting in Pharma Journalism in an unbiased, fearless & independent way. Over the last one decade, The Magazine has covered some of the biggest voices in the healthcare Industry. Available both in digital & printed format, Pharmaleaders has emerged out as a leading title in voicing the opinion of the healthcare industry.