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Talecris-Grifols merger closing pushed to June 30; FTC still weighing the deal

Talecris Biotherapeutics and Grifols are extending the closing date for their proposed $3.4 billion merger while Grifols continues to work with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on clearing the deal.

Talecris Biotherapeutics and Grifols are pushing the closing date of their proposed merger to June 30.

The companies had previously set a March 6 closing date for the $3.4 billion deal. Barcelona-based Grifols said that it had extended the financing and financing commitments from its lenders to June 30 as well.

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina-based Talecris (NASDAQ: TLCR), a blood therapeutics company, is the acquisition target of Grifols, which also develops and provides blood therapeutics. The merger was first announced last summer, but the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has been wary of consolidation in this space, which is currently served by only five companies. In 2008, the FTC opposed the bid of Australian company CSL Limited to acquire Talecris. The FTC also has concerns about a Talecris/Grifols merger. Citing an unnamed source, Reuters in February reported that FTC staff believed the agency should challenge the merger.

Talecris and Grifols said in a statement that Grifols continues to work with the FTC to obtain clearance for this deal. Grifols has agreed with the FTC not to close the merger transaction without providing the agency at least 30 days advanced notice.

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