Actelion deal reflects current cost of M&A, strategist says

27 January 2017

The cost of getting your hands on on-market or research and development (R&D) capabilities is shown by the high price of the Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) takeover of Actelion (SIX: ATLN), says an expert running his eye over the deal.

It was announced this week that, after weeks of discussions and amid potential interest from other pharma companies, the US healthcare giant had reached agreement to buy the Swiss biotech in a $30 billion deal which includes the spin out of a new R&D company, currently going by the name R&D NewCo.

"The payback will take many years"

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