Davis Polk & Wardwell is advising Roche on its approximately $44 billion offer to acquire all of the outstanding publicly held shares in Genentech. Roche acquired a majority of Genentech in 1990 and currently owns 55.9% of all outstanding shares.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world’s leading research-focused health care groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. San Francisco, California-headquartered Genentech is a leading biotechnology company.

The Davis Polk corporate team includes partners Arthur F. Golden, Christopher Mayer and John H. Butler, associates Sophia Hudson and William J. Chudd and summer associates Brett Daniel Fieldston and Gina Cora, all of the New York office. Partner Lawrence Portnoy and associates Scott B. Luftglass and Jane M. Morril (not yet admitted), all of the New York office, are providing litigation advice. Partner Ronan P. Harty of the New York office is providing antitrust advice. Partner Michael Mollerus of the New York office is providing tax advice. Partner Jean M. McLoughlin and associate Sonesh S. Chainani of the New York office are providing employment advice. Counsel Margaret M. Ayres of the Washington, DC, office is providing regulatory advice.