Takeda Pharmaceutical said it will sell its Japanese consumer healthcare business to U.S.-based investment fund Blackstone Group, as the drugmaker looks to focus more on developing drugs for unmet medical needs and rare diseases.
Takeda will divest its subsidiary, Takeda Consumer Healthcare Company, to Oscar A-Co KK, a company controlled by funds managed by The Blackstone Group in a deal valued at $2.29 billion.
Japan’s largest drug company has been selling its OTC assets worldwide as it looks to reduce debt following its $59 billion acquisition of Shire last year.
The portfolio bundled in the sale includes Takeda's top-selling Alinamin line of energy drinks; Benza, a cold remedy; and a variety of over-the-counter medicines.
The deal is Blackstone’s second private equity transaction in Japan’s health care sector, following the purchase of Ayumi Pharmaceutical in 2019 for $1 billion.
The Takeda transaction is expected to close by the end of March 2021.
Read the press release