Johnson & Johnson Receives Approval From European Commission
Johnson & Johnson and Crucell recently have announced that the European Commission has granted approval for Johnson & Johnson's proposed acquisition of Crucell.
Reference is made to the joint press release of Johnson & Johnson and Crucell N.V. dated 8 December 2010 announcing the recommended cash offer by Johnson & Johnson for all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of Crucell N.V. (Crucell), including those represented by American depositary shares, at an offer price of €24.75 per share (the Offer).
With this approval an important Offer condition has been fulfilled.
As announced on 8 December 2010, the remaining timetable of the Offer process is as follows:
- 8 February 2011: the Offer Extraordinary General Meeting (Offer EGM).
- 16 February 2011, 17:45 hours Dutch time (11:45 a.m. New York time), unless extended: Acceptance Closing Time.
For more information, visit www.crucell.com.
Additional Information
This joint press release is issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 paragraph 3 of the Dutch Decree on Public Takeover Bids (Besluit openbare biedingen Wft) and Section 5:25i of the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).
On December 8, 2010, JJC Acquisition Company B.V. (the Offeror), a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, commenced the Offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares (Ordinary Shares) in the capital of Crucell, including all Ordinary Shares represented by American depositary shares (each, an ADS), on the terms and subject to the conditions and restrictions contained in the Offer Document dated December 8, 2010 (the Offer Document). Shareholders who accept the Offer and tender Ordinary Shares will be paid, on the terms and subject to the conditions and restrictions contained in the Offer Document, an amount equal to €24.75, net to the Shareholders in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes (the Offer Price) in consideration of each Ordinary Share, subject to the Offeror declaring the Offer unconditional. Shareholders who accept the Offer and tender ADSs will be paid, on the terms and subject to the conditions and restrictions contained in the Offer Document, an amount equal to the U.S. dollar equivalent of the Offer Price, calculated by using the spot market exchange rate for the U.S. dollar against the Euro on the date on which funds are received by Computershare Trust Company, N.A. to pay for ADSs upon completion of the Offer, in consideration of each ADS, subject to the Offeror declaring the Offer unconditional. The offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 17:45 hours Dutch time (11:45 a.m. New York time), on February 16, 2011, unless extended in the manner set forth in the Offer Document. This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of Crucell, nor shall there be any sale or purchase of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The Offer is being made pursuant to the tender offer statement on Schedule TO (including the Offer Document, a related ADS letter of transmittal and tender and proxy form, and other relevant materials) filed by the Offeror with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on December 8, 2010.
About Crucell
Crucell N.V. is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on research development, production and marketing of vaccines, proteins and antibodies that prevent and/or treat infectious diseases. In 2009 alone, Crucell distributed more than 115 million vaccine doses in more than 100 countries around the world, with the vast majority of doses (97%) going to developing countries. Crucell is one of the major suppliers of vaccines to UNICEF and the developing world. Crucell was the first manufacturer to launch a fully-liquid pentavalent vaccine. Called Quinvaxem, this innovative combination vaccine protects against five important childhood diseases. Over 180 million doses have been sold since its launch in 2006 in more than 50 GAVI countries. With this innovation, Crucell has become a major partner in protecting children in developing countries. Other products in Crucell's core portfolio include a vaccine against hepatitis B and a virosome-adjuvanted vaccine against influenza. Crucell also markets travel vaccines, such as an oral anti-typhoid vaccine, an oral cholera vaccine and the only aluminum-free hepatitis A vaccine on the market. Crucell has a broad development pipeline, with several product candidates based on its unique PER.C6 production technology. Crucell licenses its PER.C6 technology and other technologies to the biopharmaceutical industry. Important partners and licensees include Johnson & Johnson, DSM Biologics, sanofi-aventis, Novartis, Pfizer/Wyeth, GSK, CSL and Merck & Co. Crucell is headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands, with offices in China, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, the USA and Vietnam. Crucell employs over 1300 people. For more information, visit www.crucell.com.
About Johnson & Johnson
Caring for the world, one person at a time.inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science - bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our approximately 114,000 employees at more than 250 Johnson & Johnson companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day throughout the world.
SOURCE: Johnson & Johnson and Crucell