Rumours have again resurfaced that Actavis could acquire Allergan after a Bloomberg report claimed that talks are being held about a deal in the region of $60 billion.
Actavis has frequently been mentioned as a buyer for Allergan which has spent the past few months fending off the hostile advances of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International and allegedly had a $50 billion bid turned down in August. Now, according to Bloomberg, two unnamed sources say that about $3 billion separates the two companies from pulling off a deal. Allergan is reportedly after more than $210 a share while Actavis wants to pay closer to $200.
The sources claim that a merger could be sealed this month, and that Allergan is trying to strike a deal before an investor meeting on December 18. That is when shareholders are scheduled to vote on a proposal from Valeant and partner Pershing Square Capital to change the Allergan board and replace its members with directors who are keen on a Valeant takeover.
Valeant’s cash-and-stock offer is currently worth around $180 a share and last week, Bill Ackman, Pershing Square’s founder called on Allergan to hold an auction given that it was reputedly considering a sale. The Allergan/Valeant saga has been an acrimonious one and many observers believe Actavis, which agreed to buy Durata Therapeutics last month, will win the day.
