Pfizer + Allergan Mega-merger?
/In a move driven by Pfizer Inc's desire to slash its tax bills its meregr with allergan will make it one of the worlds biggest market caps.
In a deal is expected to close in second half of 2016 The Pfizer/Allergan merger is likley the largest merger in the health care sector.
As part of an effort to reduce its corporate tax rate from 40 percent to 12.5 percent, Pfizer is negotiating to buy Allergan Plc. in a $160 billion dollar deal. Operating under the new name of Pfizer Plc Ian Read will remain Chief Executive Officer, while Allergan's CEO Brent Saunders remain in a senior role focused on operations and the integration. Current Pfizer shareholders will receive one share of the new company for each share they own.
Beyond the issue of tax rate reduction, Read also cites greater financial flexibility that will facilitate continued discovery and development of new drugs, direct return of capital to shareholders, and continued investment of about $9 billion dollars in the United States; all of which would make Pfizer more secure in an increasing competitive market.
It all sounds great, so why the discussions and debates? The acquisition, shifts Pfizer's headquarters to Ireland, resulting in the largest relocation of a U.S. company re-locating production overseas. This relocation explains, in part, the expected tax benefit.
As you can imagine, in an election year, this has added fuel to a roaring fire. President Obama called the move unpatriotic while Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton vowed to push for measures to prevent such deals. The move was also slammed by Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying that such move was disgusting considering the potential job losses.
Job losses aren’t the only issue however; investors had hoped Pfizer would sell off the lower-margin business in 2017, a move now put off by the time required to integrate Allergan. However, after completion, Pfizer will be the fourth largest market cap company in the world. No wonder everyone’s talking.
Read more at Reutershttp://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/24/us-allergan-m-a-pfizer-idUSKBN0TB0UT20151124#yS4ozV636BhWJ42T.99
