Lonza in talks to buy Capsugel for US$5bil

NEW YORK: Swiss pharmaceutical manufacturer Lonza Group AG has confirmed it is in advanced talks with private equity firm KKR & Co LP to acquire Capsugel, a US maker of capsule products and other drug delivery systems.

Sources familiar with the talks told Reuters that a potential transaction would be valued at more than US$5bil.

Capsugel “would fit perfectly with Lonza’s ... strategy and strengthen its position as leading supplier to a number of important healthcare markets,” Lonza said in a statement.

“A successful acquisition would be value adding and be within Lonza’s stated acquisition criteria.”

The deal, which Lonza said still may not come to fruition, comes as the Swiss drug ingredient maker seeks to boost its life sciences capabilities and produce a wider range of molecules used in active pharmaceutical ingredients and drug delivery.

It held unsuccessful talks to acquire US drug delivery technology company Catalent Inc earlier this year.

Discussions between Lonza and KKR could lead to a deal as early this week, people familiar with the talks said on Sunday.

The sources asked not to be identified because the negotiations are confidential. Capsugel and KKR did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Based in Morristown, New Jersey, Capsugel manufacturers empty two-piece hard capsules as well as finished dosage forms for drug delivery.

It serves more than 4,000 corporate customers in over 100 countries.

Reuters reported in March that KKR was preparing to run a sale process for Capsugel this year, and also explore the possibility of an initial public offering of the company as an alternative to an outright sale.

KKR acquired Capsugel from Pfizer Inc for US$2.4bil in 2011. – Reuters