Chinook Therapeutics Enters into Agreement to be Acquired by Novartis AG

On June 11, 2023 Chinook Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: KDNY), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of precision medicines for kidney diseases, reported that it has entered into an agreement and plan of merger with Novartis AG pursuant to which Novartis will acquire Chinook for $40 per share in cash, or a total of $3.2 billion (Press release, Chinook Therapeutics, JUN 11, 2023, View Source [SID1234632641]). This offer represents a premium of 83 percent to Chinook’s 60-day volume-weighted average stock price and 67 percent to Chinook’s closing price on June 9, 2023. In addition, Chinook shareholders will receive contingent value rights (CVRs) providing for payment of up to $4 per share upon the achievement of certain future regulatory milestones with respect to Chinook’s lead product candidate, atrasentan. Total consideration including the contingent value right, if the milestones are achieved, would be approximately $3.5 billion. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies.

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"We are pleased that Novartis recognizes the significant value that the Chinook team has built with our pipeline of clinical and preclinical programs for patients with rare, severe chronic kidney diseases," said Eric Dobmeier, president and chief executive officer of Chinook Therapeutics. "We believe this transaction is great news for kidney disease patients and the programs we have built at Chinook. Through this merger, Novartis can apply its substantial resources to pursue broader development efforts and commercialization of atrasentan, zigakibart (BION-1301) and other programs in our pipeline to build its global renal therapeutic area."

Completion of the transaction is expected in the second half of 2023, pending approval by Chinook’s stockholders and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. Until that time, Chinook will continue to operate as a separate and independent company.

Centerview Partners LLC and MTS Health Partners, L.P. are serving as financial advisors, and Fenwick & West LLP is serving as legal counsel to Chinook.

Transaction Details

Under the terms of the merger agreement, Novartis will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Chinook through a subsidiary for a price of $40 per share in cash at closing. The CVRs to be issued to Chinook shareholders will provide for payments of up to an additional $4 per share with respect to specific regulatory approvals for atrasentan, $2 of which is related to IgA nephropathy and $2 of which is related to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The closing of the proposed transaction is subject to certain conditions, including approval by Chinook’s stockholders, the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary conditions. A copy of the merger agreement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and will be publicly available.