FTC asks more questions on Roche's planned buy of Spark

In yet a further delay to the transaction, Swiss pharma giant Roche (ROG: SIX) and Spark Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ONCE) today announced that they have each received a request for additional information and documentary material from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in connection with the agency’s review of Roche’s pending $4.3 billion acquisition of Spark announced in February this year.

Issuance of the Second Request is part of the regulatory review process. The effect of the Second Request is to extend the waiting period until 10 days after Roche has substantially complied with the Second Request, unless the waiting period is terminated earlier by the FTC or the parties have entered into a timing agreement with the FTC. The parties remain committed to the transaction and are working cooperatively and expeditiously with the FTC in connection with its review.

News of the delay, now the fourth one, saw gene therapy specialist Spark’s shares down 13.29% at $94.82 in light pre-market trading. The Swiss market was closed due to a public holiday.

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