Takeda to acquire Millennium for $8.8 billion

Apr 10 2008

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Takeda will acquire Millennium for approximately $8.8 billion through a cash tender offer of $25.00 per share.

The transaction was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies. Upon completion of the acquisition, Millennium will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, and will continue operations in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as a standalone business unit. Millennium will be known as Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Takeda Company.

Millennium is a leading biopharmaceutical company. In the United States, Millennium markets VELCADE(R) (bortezomib) for Injection-a novel, market- leading oncology product approved in more than 85 countries. Millennium has an innovation-driven discovery and development organization, which is advancing a pipeline of novel product candidates in oncology and inflammation. This includes a potential therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is expected to enter Phase III clinical trials in late 2008/early 2009. Millennium reported total revenues of approximately $528 million for 2007.

The acquisition of Millennium accelerates Takeda's vision of becoming a global leader in oncology with critical mass in the areas of oncology discovery, development, regulatory affairs and commercialization. Millennium and Takeda have complementary research, development and commercialization capabilities, which have the potential to create a powerful new drug development engine and accelerate the potential of an emerging drug pipeline.

"Millennium greatly strengthens Takeda's global oncology portfolio, led by the flagship product VELCADE, and further enhances its pipeline with clinically differentiated, high-quality product candidates," said Yasuchika Hasegawa, President of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. "Takeda is committed to becoming a global leader in oncology by delivering novel therapies that improve the standards of care for patients. Millennium has strong discovery, development and commercial capabilities led by a well-established management team. We are pleased that Dr. Deborah Dunsire, Millennium President and Chief Executive Officer, and the current management team intend to continue to lead the Company. Our strong desire is to retain Millennium employees, who have created an entrepreneurial and innovative culture."

"We are extremely proud of the commitment and passion of our employees, who have built this vibrant organization. We look forward to continued success as we join the Takeda Group," said Deborah Dunsire, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Millennium. "Both companies share a common vision to develop breakthrough medicines for patients, become a global leader in oncology and expand the global reach of our IBD product candidates. We expect this transaction to help accelerate that vision and deliver tremendous value to patients, shareholders and our employees."