CSL's big buy boosts pipeline

In its largest ever acquisition, CSL has announced it will buy Swiss pharma Vifor for US$12.3 billion (AU$17.2 billion) - a deal that adds 10 commercialised products to the Aussie biotech's swag and boosts the company's pipeline by a third.

The all-cash agreement approved by both boards of directors has been in the wind for some time, and values Vifor at US$179.25 per share, or US$11.7 billion. The US$12.3 billion buy price includes an assumed debt of 540 million Swiss francs (US$586 million).

The price is a 61 per cent premium on Vifor's unaffected closing share price on 1 December 2021. The tender offer will commence in January, and is contingent on CSL getting at least 80 per cent of the shares on offer.