AstraZeneca and BMS Discuss Merger... $400 Billion Pharma Giant Could Emerge if Deal Succeeds

FT: "Deal May Be Delayed or Fall Through"
Strengthening U.S. Market Presence Through BMS

It has been reported that British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has held merger talks with its U.S. rival Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS). If the transaction is completed, it would create one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, with an enterprise value of approximately $400 billion (about KRW 577 trillion).

The Financial Times (FT) reported on August 2 (local time), citing people familiar with the matter, that AstraZeneca and BMS have been in discussions over the past several months about a potential combination of the two companies.

According to these sources, while there is a possibility that the talks could lead to an agreement in the near future, delays or a breakdown in the deal cannot be ruled out. The specific transaction structure and merger and acquisition (M&A) method have not been disclosed.

AstraZeneca's market capitalization stands at about 196 billion pounds (approximately KRW 384 trillion), while BMS has a market capitalization of about 133 billion dollars (about KRW 193 trillion). The combined enterprise value of the two companies nears $400 billion, making this deal one of the largest corporate M&As in history if it goes through.

This transaction could further strengthen the U.S.-centered strategy pursued by AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot. By merging with BMS, a U.S. pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca could expand its research and development (R&D) and sales footprint in the United States, the world's largest pharmaceutical market.

In June of this year, AstraZeneca took measures to raise its profile on the New York Stock Exchange, further deepening ties with the U.S. capital market. At the time, concerns were raised in the UK that AstraZeneca was prioritizing the U.S. market over the London Stock Exchange.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.