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Torrent Pharma shares up after US FTC order in Sun-Ranbaxy merger

Sun Pharma to divest its interest in generic anti-bacterial medicine to Torrent Pharma

BS Reporter Mumbai
On Monday, Shares of Gujarat-based Torrent Pharma went up by 4.5% at Rs 1,150, from closing price of Rs 1100.95, intraday on BSE following US Federal Trade Commission (USFTC) order in Sun Pharma-Ranbaxy merger.

Last week, US FTC had ordered Sun Pharma to divest its interest in a generic anti-bacterial medicine (Minocycline tablets) to Torrent Pharma.

The financial details of the deal is not yet ascertained. Torrent Pharma shares were closed at Rs 1123.95, up by 2.09% or Rs 23 on BSE.

The USFTC has given a conditional nod to Sun for the proposed $4-billion merger with Ranbaxy. Earlier, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) had granted a conditional approval to the merger in December 2014. The High Court of Punjab and Haryana is expected to announce its verdict on the Sun-Ranbaxy merger this month.

Minocycline tablets are used to treat bacterial infections including pneumonia and other respiratory tract infections, acne, and skin, genital and urinary tract infections.

According to the order by the FTC, Sun and Ranbaxy must sell Ranbaxy's generic Minocycline capsule assets to Torrent to enable Torrent to achieve regulatory approval for a change in ingredient suppliers for its Minocycline tablets as quickly as Ranbaxy would have been able to do in the absence of the deal.

“Sun is one of a limited number of firms that has Minocycline tablets in development and an ANDA under review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Therefore, the acquisition would likely increase concentration in the relevant markets substantially by reducing the number of future suppliers of Minocycline tablets,” the FTC has said in its order.

A Sun Pharma statement said, "The FTC accepted a proposed consent agreement pursuant to which, Sun Pharma and Ranbaxy have agreed to divest Ranbaxy’s interests in generic minocycline tablets and capsules to an external third party."

Sun Pharma and Ranbaxy are working closely towards completion of the transaction and will comply with the conditions laid down in the FTC consent agreement within the specified time, it added.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals plans to raise up to Rs 10,000 crore by issuing securities and seeking shareholders' nod. The proposals were cleared last month by the company's board.
 

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First Published: Feb 02 2015 | 4:51 PM IST

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