Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc and Gentium S.p.A. have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which a subsidiary of Jazz Pharmaceuticals will make a cash tender offer of $57.00 per share for all outstanding Gentium ordinary shares and American Depositary Shares, in a transaction that is valued at approximately $1 billion.

Gentium is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and manufacturing of therapies to treat and prevent a variety of rare diseases and conditions that currently have few or no treatment options, including orphan vascular diseases related to cancer treatments. In October 2013, the European Commission granted marketing authorization for Defitelio (defibrotide), the company's lead product, for the treatment of severe hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) in adults and children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

"The planned combination of Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Gentium is highly synergistic, as we both are dedicated to bringing highly differentiated therapies to patients who have high unmet medical needs," said Dr Khalid Islam, chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of Gentium. "We believe that Jazz Pharmaceuticals' commercial and clinical expertise, and existing multi-national infrastructure, will help realize the value of Defitelio to patients, as the first treatment approved in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of severe hepatic VOD. After thoroughly evaluating our strategic options, our board of directors has determined that this all-cash transaction is in the best interest of our shareholders and employees."

"Incorporating Gentium into Jazz Pharmaceuticals is a strong strategic fit as Defitelio would diversify our development and commercial portfolio and complement our clinical experience in haematology/oncology and our expertise in reaching targeted physicians who treat serious medical conditions," said Bruce Cozadd, chairman and chief executive officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals. "Because Defitelio is already approved in the EU, the acquisition would add a new orphan product that has potential for short- and long-term revenue generation, high growth and expansion of our multi-national commercial platform."

This transaction has been approved by the Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Gentium boards of directors. Jazz Pharmaceuticals has entered into support agreements with certain shareholders of Gentium, including members of the board of directors and management team of Gentium, pursuant to which each of these shareholders has agreed to tender the Gentium ordinary shares and American Depositary Shares owned of record or beneficially by such shareholder, which in the aggregate represent approximately 15 per cent of the outstanding Gentium ordinary shares and American Depositary Shares as of the date of the agreements.

The transaction is structured as an all cash tender offer by a subsidiary of Jazz Pharmaceuticals for all of the outstanding ordinary shares of Gentium and American Depositary Shares representing ordinary shares of Gentium. The closing of the tender offer is conditioned upon at least 66.67 per cent of the fully diluted number of ordinary shares and American Depositary Shares of Gentium being tendered in the offer, with an option at Jazz Pharmaceuticals' discretion to lower the minimum tender condition to a majority of the outstanding ordinary shares and American Depositary Shares, as well as other customary closing conditions. The tender offer is intended to facilitate the acquisition by Jazz Pharmaceuticals of as many ordinary shares and American Depositary Shares as possible, with the expectation that Gentium, following the offer, would cease to be a publicly-traded company. Following the closing of the tender offer, Jazz Pharmaceuticals intends to cause Gentium to seek to delist the American Depositary Shares from Nasdaq and to cause Gentium to terminate the deposit agreement relating to the American Depositary Shares. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals expects to finance the transaction with a combination of cash on hand, the proceeds from an incremental term loan and revolver borrowings under its existing senior secured credit facility.  Barclays has provided a binding commitment letter for a $500 million incremental term loan, subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals' financial advisor for the transaction is Barclays, and its primary legal advisors are Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, Baker & McKenzie, Cooley LLP, Hogan Lovells and Gattai, Minoli & Partners.

Gentium's financial advisor for the transaction is Jefferies LLC, and its primary legal advisors are Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom and Gianni, Origoni, Grippo & Capelli Partners.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc is a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on improving patients' lives by identifying, developing and commercializing innovative products that address unmet medical needs.

Gentium S.p.A., is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and manufacturing of drugs to treat and prevent a variety of diseases and conditions, including vascular diseases related to cancer and cancer treatments.