Charles River Laboratories to acquire French CRO

18-Feb-2019 - USA

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. announced that it has signed a binding offer to acquire Citoxlab for €448 million in cash (or approximately $510 million based on current exchange rates), subject to customary closing adjustments. The proposed transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019, subject to labor consultations, regulatory requirements, and customary closing conditions. Upon completion of the labor consultations, Citoxlab’s shareholders are expected to enter into a definitive purchase agreement.

Citoxlab is a premier, non-clinical contract research organization (CRO), specializing in regulated safety assessment services, non-regulated discovery services, and medical device testing. With operations in Europe and North America, the proposed acquisition of Citoxlab would further strengthen Charles River’s position as the leading, global, early-stage CRO by expanding its scientific portfolio and geographic footprint, which would enhance the Company’s ability to partner with clients across the drug discovery and development continuum.

James C. Foster, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Charles River Laboratories, commented, “The proposed acquisition of Citoxlab would expand and solidify Charles River’s position as the partner of choice for our clients’ early-stage research needs, at a time when we believe there continues to be significant demand for outsourced services from both biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Citoxlab would be an exceptional strategic fit for Charles River because it incorporates the key attributes we require in an acquisition: scientific expertise, complementary capabilities, talented people, and access to growing end markets. The proposed acquisition would also enhance our geographic footprint, particularly in Europe, and our access to a growing biotechnology client base, enabling Charles River to provide a broader range of services proximate to our clients – both large and small.”

“In addition to enhancing our value proposition for clients and meeting our disciplined acquisition criteria, we believe that the proposed acquisition of Citoxlab would generate value for shareholders, driving profitable revenue growth and non-GAAP earnings per share accretion of approximately $0.15 in 2019 and at least $0.35 in 2020. We greatly respect and are committed to Citoxlab’s employees, its scientific capabilities, and the reputation it has built over 50 years since its founding, and look forward to welcoming Citoxlab to the Charles River family,” Mr. Foster concluded.

Jean-François Le Bigot, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Citoxlab, added, “Becoming part of the Charles River family would be a significant achievement and recognition of the accomplishments of Citoxlab and our dedicated team. After many years of growth, I am very pleased and excited to embark on a new era for Citoxlab. I am confident that Charles River is committed to our global employees and advancing our mission through our extensive scientific capabilities. At a time when new drug approvals are at record levels and the complexity of each drug candidate is increasing, we believe the collaboration of our respective scientific teams, the implementation of best practices, and the synergies between the early-stage services offered by Charles River and Citoxlab would represent a significant growth opportunity for both organizations, and also enhance the value that we provide to all of our clients to meet their individual needs.”

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/155724/charles-river-laboratories-to-acquire-french-cro.html