Deals
Actavis Bid for Forest Puts Spotlight on Valeant Next: Real M&A
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Actavis Plc’s purchase of Forest Laboratories Inc. accelerates a pharmaceutical merger wave that stands to engulf even more drugmakers.
The $21 billion transaction, which includes Forest’s net cash, is fueling the busiest 12-month period for acquisitions in the industry since 2009, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Generic-drug companies such as Actavis and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. are boosting growth by crossing over into specialty medicines including skin-care treatments, birth control and remedies for digestive diseases.