AstraZeneca Buys Alexion In $39 Billion-Mega Deal

AstraZeneca Buys Alexion In $39 Billion-Mega Deal

The global pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca plc (NYSE: AZN) is back with its fifth deal of the year, and its biggest one at that. AstraZeneca is buying Boston, Massachusetts-based Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALXN) for $39 billion. Alexion is a global biopharmaceutical company that has pioneered complement inhibition for a broad spectrum of immune-mediated rare diseases caused by uncontrolled activation of the complement system, a vital part of the immune system. According to the terms of the agreement, Alexion shareholders will receive $60 cash and 2.1243 AstraZeneca American Depositary Shares (ADS) per share (each ADS equals 1/2 AZN share). Based on AstraZeneca’s... Read More »
Slow Start to Q4 Healthcare Deals

Slow Start to Q4 Healthcare Deals

October is typically a flighty month in the annual investing cycle. Spooky things can happen as the month winds down to Halloween. With the now-hot/now-not sentiments swirling around the equity markets, it was a relief not to witness a meltdown after all ended the month at or near new highs. The healthcare market wasn’t nearly so robust. Third quarter deal volume, now at 447 transactions, is still down 5% compared with the second quarter’s 471. Preliminary data for October 2019 doesn’t demonstrate a renewed vigor in the healthcare space. At 136 transactions, it is 9% lower than September deal volume, and a thumping 31% below October 2018, with 198 deals. With only one... Read More »