Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, has acquired the aqua business of Elanco Animal Health Incorporated for US$1.3 billion in cash, consisting of a portfolio of medicines and vaccines, nutritionals and supplements for aquatic species; two related aqua manufacturing facilities in Canada and Vietnam; as well as a research facility in Chile.
This acquisition also brings a portfolio of water treatment products for warm water production, complementing Merck Animal Health’s warm water vaccine portfolio.
Stikeman Elliott acted as Canadian counsel to Merck & Co., Inc. with a team that included Michael Burkett, Joseph Bricker, Wei Yan, Ryan Johnson and John Ciardullo (Corporate); Sara Zborovski and Ian Trimble (Health Regulatory); Melissa Schyven (Real Estate); Patrick Welsh (Environmental); Jeilah Chan (Intellectual Property); Khalfan Khalfan, Tamara Ticoll, Alex Lemoine and Danielle Jager (Employment); Natasha vandenHoven and Sagar Darar (Pensions and Benefits); Jill Winton and Sarah Visentin (Tax).
Covington & Burling LLP served as US legal counsel to Merck & Co., while Goldman Sachs & Co., LLP acted as financial advisor.
Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP and White & Case LLP served as legal counsel to Elanco, with BofA Securities, Inc. as the exclusive financial advisor.