Johnson & Johnson to acquire Momenta Pharmaceuticals for $52.50/shr
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Momenta Pharmaceuticals (MNTA) in an all cash transaction for approximately $6.5 billion.
The transaction will include full global rights to nipocalimab (M281), a clinically validated, potentially best-in-class anti-FcRn antibody.
Nipocalimab gives Janssen the “opportunity to reach significantly more patients by pursuing indications across many autoimmune diseases with substantial unmet medical need in maternal-fetal disorders, neuro-inflammatory disorders, rheumatology, dermatology and autoimmune hematology.
Nipocalimab recently received a rare pediatric disease designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Momenta’s expertise in FcRn mechanisms is especially important for nipocalimab as it supports and accelerates the development of a medicine designed to target a number of autoantibody-driven conditions across several of Janssen’s established therapeutic areas.
Janssen expects nipocalimab to contribute to its goals of achieving above-market growth over the mid and long term.
In addition to Momenta’s employees and lead asset nipocalimab, Janssen will acquire Momenta’s pipeline of clinical and preclinical assets.
Under the terms of the transaction, which was approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Vigor Sub, Inc. (Merger Sub), a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (the Company), will commence a tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of Momenta for $52.50 per share.
The closing of the offer is conditioned on the tender of a majority of the outstanding shares of Momenta’s common stock on a fully diluted basis, as well as clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary closing conditions.
The merger will be effected as soon as practicable after the closing of the tender offer. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2020.
While the closing of the transaction is expected to be modestly dilutive, the Company is maintaining its current 2020 Adjusted EPSi guidance range.
Looking ahead, the costs associated with the development of Momenta’s portfolio are expected to be incremental to planned R&D investment levels over the next few years given the value creation potential of our current portfolio, and thus expect this incremental investment in R&D to have an EPS impact worth approximately 10c-15c in 2021.
Shares of MNTA are up 69% to $52.14 in morning trading.
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