Orexo AB said the company and principal owners of Biolipox AB have reached an agreement under which Orexo will acquire Biolipox, an innovative Swedish research-based pharmaceutical company that develops new therapies for inflammatory diseases, including pain management and respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The acquisition will create an innovative specialty pharma company with a broad product pipeline, global partnerships with major financial potential, and established sales channels. Substantial shareholder value will be created through operational synergies and by optimising the potential of the combined product pipeline.
The transaction will take place through an issue in kind to Biolipox's shareholders. The deal values Biolipox at SEK 856 million, and payment will be made through an issue of a maximum of 8,560,000 Orexo shares. The final structure of the transaction is dependent on Orexo's completion of due diligence of Biolipox. The deal is also conditional upon approval of the issue in kind by an extraordinary general meeting of Orexo and customary regulatory approvals.
"The combination of Orexo and Biolipox will create a larger and more robust pharmaceutical company with a broad and attractive product pipeline. Orexo's business model, combined with the Biolipox innovative research pipeline is an exciting combination to create value," said, Håkan Åström, chairman, Orexo.
Orexo will acquire Biolipox through an issue in kind. With the settlement price used in the transaction (SEK 100 per share based on an average share price during the last 45 days of trading), the new Orexo will have an estimated market capitalization of approximately SEK 2.3 billion. The company will retain the Orexo name. Following the transaction, Biolipox's shareholders will own 38 per cent of the combined company. Biolipox main owners are committed to a lock-up period of three months, following closing of the transaction.
The two companies have together approximately 120 employees, including nearly 90 engaged in drug development. The Orexo head office will remain in Uppsala, Sweden. Torbjörn Bjerke M.D., currently CEO of Biolipox, will serve as president and CEO of the new company. Claes Wenthzel will continue to serve as Executive Vice President and CFO, and Håkan Åström will continue as Chairman of the Board. Orexo's current CEO, Zsolt Lavotha, will be leaving his operational responsibilities in the company for personal reasons and will serve as Senior Advisor to Orexo's board.
Orexo will develop as a growing pharmaceutical company focusing on specialty pharmaceuticals. Primary focus will be on development and commercialisation of products primarily in the areas of pain management and respiratory diseases targeting well defined patient groups and specialist physicians, enabling Orexo to play a fully integrated role from research to commercialisation.
Biolipox's pipeline includes several development projects in the areas of pain management and respiratory diseases. The company's strategy has been to seek new partnerships at an early stage in an effort to reduce financial risk. The combined company's product pipeline will consist of a number of priority projects, most of which are in late stage development, as well as a number of other projects which will be evaluated by company management. Tangible synergies and efficiency gains can thereby be achieved, a company press release said.
"Orexo has since its listing in 2005 actively been working on identifying and evaluating a number of acquisition candidates. We see this deal as an important step forward in achieving a broader product pipeline that will bring us closer to our vision of creating a formidable specialty pharma company," says Zsolt Lavotha, president and CEO, Orexo.
Pro forma the combined company has cash and short-term investments covering more than 12 months, excluding any cash from out-licensing agreements or milestone payments. As per 30 September 2007, Orexo and Biolipox combined had cash and short-term investments amounting to SEK 242 million. In addition, Orexo and Biolipox will receive cash payments totaling approximately SEK 171 million throughout the remainder of 2007.
Orexo is a pharmaceutical company, which focuses on identifying sub optimal therapeutic characteristics of existing products and developing more efficient and effective delivery methods for them. By combining approved active substances with Orexo's drug delivery technologies it is possible to significantly enhance their therapeutic value, such as providing quicker onset of action or ease of administration.
Biolipox is a Swedish research-intense pharmaceutical company that focuses on developing novel, effective drugs for treating respiratory diseases and other inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rhinitis (hay fever), pain and arthritis (inflammatory joint diseases).