Gilead Sciences completes acquisition of Kite Pharma in 11.9 billion dollar

FOSTER CITY, Calif.: Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced the completion of the previously announced transaction for Dodgers Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gilead (“Purchaser”), to acquire Kite Pharma, Inc. for $180 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest, or approximately $11.9 billion in the aggregate.

On August 28, 2017, Gilead and Kite announced that Kite, Gilead, and Purchaser had signed a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which a tender offer would be made. Pursuant to the merger agreement, Gilead and Purchaser commenced a tender offer on September 5, 2017, to acquire all outstanding shares of Kite at a price of $180 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest.

On October 3, 2017, Gilead announced that it had successfully completed the tender offer for all outstanding shares of common stock of Kite and had accepted for payment all shares validly tendered and not withdrawn as of the expiration time of the tender offer and would promptly pay for such shares, which shares represented approximately 66.20% of Kite’s outstanding shares (including 2,003,002 shares delivered through Notices of Guaranteed Delivery, representing approximately 3.46% of the shares outstanding).

Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, Purchaser merged with and into Kite on October 3, 2017. All outstanding shares of common stock of Kite, other than (i) shares owned by Gilead, Purchaser or any of their direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, (ii) shares owned by Kite (or held in Kite’s treasury) and (iii) shares held by Kite stockholders who properly demand appraisal for their shares under Delaware law, were canceled and converted into the right to receive cash equal to the $180 price per share.

As a result of the completion of the merger, Kite has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gilead and the common stock of Kite will no longer be listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, which is expected to take effect as of the close of market on October 3, 2017.

“We are excited to welcome more than 700 talented Kite employees to the Gilead organization,” said John F. Milligan, Ph.D., Gilead’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Throughout our respective histories, each company has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing life-saving therapies for people who need them. I look forward to all that we will accomplish together, as a combined organization.”

Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Lazard and Barclays acted as financial advisors to Gilead. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acted as Gilead’s legal advisors.

Centerview Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Kite. Jeffries LLC and Cowen and Company, LLC also provided advice to Kite. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Cooley LLP acted as Kite’s legal advisors.