Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., a company develops and markets prescription pharmaceutical products and medical devices, and Santarus, Inc. a specialty biopharmaceutical company, have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Salix will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Santarus for $32.00 per share in cash (without interest).  The all-cash transaction values Santarus at approximately $2.6 billion.  

The $32.00 per share price represents an approximately 36% premium over Santarus’ November 6, 2013 closing price of $23.53 per share and an approximately 39% premium over Santarus’ average closing stock price for the prior 30-trading day period.  The proposed transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of Salix and Santarus.  The companies expect to close the transaction in the first quarter of 2014.

Salix president and chief executive officer, Carolyn Logan, stated, “We are extremely pleased with the Santarus acquisition, which is transformative for Salix both commercially and financially, fulfilling many of our strategic needs while providing immediate and significant accretion in 2014 and beyond.  We are very pleased to be able to merge our sales forces, combine two complementary product portfolios, expand our pipeline, diversify revenue, access health care providers in primary care, add a significant number of health care prescribers to our called-on universe and to better position Salix for success in the present as well as the future.  Additionally we look forward to all of our stakeholders – patients, healthcare providers, employees and stockholders – benefiting from the increased scale created by a larger, even stronger Salix.”

Gerald T. Proehl, president and chief executive officer, Santarus, stated, “Our employees have worked very hard to build Santarus into a premier specialty biopharmaceutical company.  I would like to thank all of our employees for their contributions to making Santarus the successful company it is today.”  Proehl added, “We believe the timing is right for this strategic combination with Salix, a highly respected company that is uniquely positioned to expand the commercialization of Santarus’ marketed products and to continue to advance the development of our pipeline products.  We welcome the opportunity Salix will provide to build on Santarus’ success.”

Salix expects that the transaction will have the following potential impact: Solidifies Lead Position in the Gastrointestinal (GI) Market; The combined company is expected to have a leading position with a strong portfolio of  22 marketed products, including: Xifaxan, Uceris, Glumetza, Apriso, Zegerid, Moviprep, Relistor, Solesta, Fulyzaq, Cycloset and Fenoglide;  While both companies are specialty focused, there is no overlap in marketed products; Additional pipeline development opportunities;  Revenue Diversification;  Uceris, G and Zegerid have the potential to meaningfully diversify Salix’s product offering and revenue base; Potential growth from recently-launched Uceris is expected to provide increased revenue diversification ; No product is expected to account for more than 50% of the combined company’s revenue, based on proforma estimates;  Attractive Financial Profile of Combined Company;   Annualized combined company financial results based on the quarter ended September 30, 2013 were revenue of $1,348 million and adjusted EBITDA of $537 million; Significant accretion in 2014.  Revenue synergies from the increased number of sales representatives in GI and the expanded presence in primary care, which are not included in the guidance, provide the opportunity for further accretion; Strong growth and the realization of additional synergies are expected to result in greater EPS accretion in 2015;  Expecting 2014 GAAP EPS of approximately $3.85 per share, fully diluted, assuming no upside from revenue synergies, product launches or indication approvals; Expecting 2014 non-GAAP EPS of approximately $5.00 per share, fully diluted, assuming no upside from revenue synergies, product launches or indication approvals;  Strong cash flow generation should allow delevering to Debt/EBITDA target of approximately 3x over the next 3 years;   Significant Revenue Synergy Opportunities;  Increases Salix’s presence in the gastroenterology market which should benefit Uceris as well as Salix’s products;        Leverages Santarus’ experienced specialty sales force immediately to gain revenue synergies from Salix’s existing products, while continuing to grow Santarus’ products;         Achieves Salix’s goal to expand its GI products into primary care to capture significant product sales currently not accessed by the Salix sales effort; Creation of a third sales force in gastroenterology and hepatology which will allow key GI products to have increased promotional exposure.

Under the terms of the definitive merger agreement, Salix intends to commence a cash tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Santarus for $32.00 per share.  Following successful completion of the tender offer, Salix will acquire all remaining shares of Santarus common stock not tendered in the offer through a second step merger at the same price per share paid in the tender offer.  The consummation of the tender offer is subject to various conditions, including a minimum tender of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Santarus common stock on a fully diluted basis, the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary closing conditions.  The tender offer is not subject to a financing condition.  Certain directors and officers of Santarus, who, as of November 6, 2013, beneficially owned or had options to acquire a number of shares of Santarus' common stock equal to approximately 12 percent of Santarus’ total outstanding shares of common stock have entered into a tender and support agreement pursuant to which such persons have agreed to tender their shares into the tender offer and, if applicable, vote their shares against certain matters, including third party proposals to acquire Santarus.  The Board of Directors of Santarus unanimously recommends that Santarus stockholders tender their shares in the tender offer.

In connection with the merger agreement, Salix and Santarus entered into an agreement with Santarus’ licensor Cosmo Technologies Limited restructuring certain aspects of Santarus’ relationship with Cosmo. Under the terms of the agreement, Salix will be returning rifamycin SV MMX to Cosmo Technologies Limited effective with the closing of Salix’s acquisition of Santarus.

Salix intends to finance the transaction with a combination of approximately $800 million cash on hand and $1.95 billion in committed financing from Jefferies Finance LLC.  Jefferies Finance LLC also has committed to provide an additional $150 million revolving credit facility.  The commitment from Jefferies Finance LLC to provide financing is subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions.

Salix’s financial advisor for the transaction is Jefferies LLC and its primary legal advisor is Covington & Burling LLP.  Santarus’ financial advisor for the transaction is Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and its legal advisor is Latham & Watkins LLP.

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, develops and markets prescription pharmaceutical products and medical devices for the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Salix’s strategy is to in-license late-stage or marketed proprietary therapeutic products, complete any required development and regulatory submission of these products, and market them through the Company’s gastroenterology specialty sales and marketing team.

Santarus, Inc. is a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing proprietary products that address the needs of patients treated by physician specialists.