Davis Polk, together with Slaughter and May, is advising Shire plc in connection with a recommended cash and stock offer for Shire’s entire share capital by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited that values Shire’s share capital at approximately $62 billion (£46 billion). It is intended that the acquisition be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement under U.K. law and is expected to close in the first half of 2019.

Shire is the global leader in serving patients with rare diseases. Shire strives to develop best-in-class therapies across a core of rare disease areas, including hematology, immunology, genetic diseases, neuroscience and internal medicine with growing therapeutic areas in ophthalmics and oncology. Takeda is a global, research and development-driven pharmaceutical company committed to bringing better health and a brighter future to patients by translating science into life-changing medicines.

The Davis Polk corporate team includes partners William J. Chudd, George R. Bason Jr. and Daniel Brass and associate Michael Gilson. Partner John B. Meade is providing capital markets advice. Partner Edmond T. FitzGerald and associate R. Scott Matarese are providing executive compensation advice. Partner Jesse Solomon and associate Nathan Kiratzis are providing antitrust and competition advice. Partner Michael Mollerus is providing tax advice. Members of the Davis Polk team are based in the New York and Washington DC offices.