BRIEF—Takeda could sell Osaka HQ to help pay for Shire

Unconfirmed reports suggest Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical is preparing to auction its now to be vacated Osaka HQ base, plus surrounding buildings, for up to 60 billion yen ($540 million).

The Nikkei Asian Review says unnamed sources confirmed the firm expects to be able to complete a sale this year, with the intention of raising funds to help cover the planned £46 billion ($62 billion) purchase of rare disease specialist Shire (LSE: SHP).

Takeda has recently opened a new Tokyo base in the capital’s Nihonbashi district.