London-listed drugmaker Shire Plc has secured a $5 billion credit facility for a takeover offer for New-Jersey-based NPS Pharmaceuticals, The Times of London reported on Sunday. The newspaper said Shire has lined the credit facility for NPS, which is being advised by Goldman Sachs, from banks led by Citigroup. (link.reuters.com/kuk79v)Insiders told The Times that an initial approach to NPS by Shire has been rebuffed. However, a former London hospital doctor with ties to both companies is acting as a go-between, the daily said.The Times reported that Colin Broom, who is on the board of NPS and the chief scientific officer of U.S. company ViroPharma that was taken over by Shire last year, would be a key figure in the takeover talks.The Financial Times blog, Alphaville, was the first to report on Shire considering a bid for NPS Pharma on Friday.
NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NPS) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on pioneering and delivering therapies that transform the lives of patients with rare diseases worldwide. Shares of NPSP traded higher by 13.41% or $3.68/share to $31.13. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $14.06 and as high as $39.68. On average, 2299150 shares of NPSP exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 15358821.
Source
