Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Co has emphatically stated that rumours of a $12.3 billion takeover of Switzerland’s Nycomed being a done deal are wide of the mark.
The wires were filled with stories yesterday about the Osaka-headquartered company reaching a deal to buy privately-owned Nycomed for around one trillion yen. However, Takeda has felt moved to make a statement saying it “has and always will comply with the rules governing the publication of any event of material significance to our business and our shareholders”. As such, “the company would like to make clear that Takeda has not agreed to any such an agreement as suggested by certain newspaper publications”.
Stressing “a policy of not commenting on any rumours regarding our business”, Takeda added that it is “constantly seeking and evaluating opportunities to increase shareholder value and enhance our business through strategic investment”. However, “there is nothing that needs to be announced at this point”.
A Nycomed spokesman told PharmaTimes World News that “we don’t comment on market rumours”. Nevertheless, several uncited reports are still maintaining that negotiations are taking place and are at an advanced level.
