Takeda Pharmaceutical acquires London-listed Shire for $62 bn

The tie-up is one of the largest ever in the pharmaceuticals sector, crowning a hectic few months of deal-making

Takeda Pharmaceutical agreed to buy London-listed Shire for £45.3 billion ($61.50 billion) on Tuesday after the Japanese company raised the amount of cash in its offer to secure a recommendation.

The final deal is approximately 46 per cent cash and 54 per cent stock, leaving Shire shareholders owning around half of the combined group.  

The deal — assuming it wins the backing of shareholders — will be the largest overseas acquisition by a Japanese company and propel Takeda, led by Frenchman Christophe Weber, into the top ranks of global drugmakers. 

The tie-up is one of the largest ever in the pharmaceuticals sector, crowning