How Roche Won The Bidding Battle For Spark

An SEC filing offers a fascinating insight into how Spark CEO Jeff Marrazzo and his board managed to play off a number of suitors against each other and get Roche to up its bid from $70 per share to $114.50.

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Spark Played Smart And Secured Bigger Bids • Source: Shutterstock

Details have emerged about the process that saw Roche beat off competition for its proposed $4.8bn acquisition of Spark Therapeutics Inc. by outbidding three rivals, although the Swiss major had to up its first offer by over 60% to get hold of the gene therapy specialist.

A filing by Spark to the US Securities and Exchange Commission also highlights the considerable negotiating skills of the company's...

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