Aspen revealed in its earnings that it has submitted a binding, irrevocable offer to GSK to acquire its specialised sterile production site for Arixtra and Fraxiparine/Fraxodi brands worldwide (excluding China, India and Pakistan), as well as the brands themselves for about £700m ($1.1bn). According to the terms of the offer, Aspen would acquire the Notre Dame de Bondeville, France-based site on April 30, 2014.
GSK in May announced that Aspen and other CMOs would pick up some of the slack as it was closing its Australian tablet packaging site.
The South African-based company now has manufacturing sites in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Mexico and two in South Africa.
MSD Deal
Aspen also acquired Merck’s API manufacturing business in July, primarily located in the Netherlands, for approximately €36m plus the value of inventory, which Aspen now says will be effective on Oct. 1.
An Aspen spokesman previously told us that the plants will support its contract manufacturing for Asian and Latin American clients. That work will be bolstered by a newly established subsidiary in Malaysia that commenced trade in July, while another subsidiary was created in Taiwan.
In a related agreement with MSD, Aspen has an option to acquire 11 branded finished dose form molecules covering a range of therapeutic areas for approximately $600m.
The MSD and GSK deals are expected to enable Aspen to establish business units in Russia, other former Soviet republics and across Europe, according to the company’s filing.
South Africa
Aspen also announced expansion projects at all of its local South African sites. After acquiring land adjacent to its Port Elizabeth site, Aspen is building a high containment suite and upgrading its packaging capabilities there.
The expansion and enhancement of manufacturing capabilities in its fine chemicals division is also picking up to integrate with the company’s API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) demand. Projects underway in East London and at Clayville are nearing completion, the company said.