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UK’s GSK ‘offers’ to up stake in Indian arm from 43.2 to 75%

UK-based Healthcare and drug major GlaxoSmithKline on Monday said it has offered to hike stake in its Indian subsidiary, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, to up to 75 per cent which would entail an outgo of over Rs 5,220 crore.

'GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced a voluntary open offer to increase its stake in its publicly-listed consumer healthcare subsidiary in India (GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare), from 43.2 per cent to up to 75 per cent at a price of Rs 3,900 per share,' the company said in a statement. The offer made pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Board of India, is to acquire up to 13,389,410 shares, representing 31.8 per cent of the total outstanding shares of the Indian company, it added.

The potential total value of the transaction at the offer price is approximately Rs 5,220 crore or 591 million pounds, the company said.

The offer represents a premium of about 28 per cent to GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare's closing share price on the National Stock Exchange on 23 November 2012, GlaxoSmithKline said.

Commenting on the development, GSK Chief Strategy Officer David Redfern said: 'This transaction represents a further step in GSK's strategy to invest in the world's fastest growing markets and, we believe, it offers a liquidity opportunity at an attractive premium for existing shareholders.'

The transaction, which will be funded through GSK's existing cash resources, will be earnings neutral for the first year and accretive thereafter and will not impact expectations for the group's long-term share buyback programme, GSK said. Subject to regulatory clearance, the offer period is expected to begin in January 2013. Payment for the shares will take place shortly after close of the offer, it added. As on quarter ended September 2012, the foreign promoter of GSKCH held 43.2 per cent stake in the company while the public shareholding is at 56.84 per cent. Securities regulations in India require a minimum public shareholding of 25 per cent for a company to maintain a public listing in the country.     


GLAXOSMITHKLINE SCRIP SURGES 20%

Shares of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare on Monday skyrocketed by 20 per cent to touch the upper circuit limit after its UK-based parent GlaxoSmithKline announced an open offer to hike stake in the subsidiary. Shares of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare zoomed up by 20 per cent to touch the upper circuit limit of Rs 3,651.80 on the BSE.

Similar movement was seen at the NSE, where the stock surged 20 per cent to Rs 3,659.20.  

The potential total value of the transaction at the offer price is approximately Rs 5,220 crore or 591 million pounds, the company said.
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