Roche In $8.3 Billion Deal To Acquire InterMune Inc (ITMN)

On Monday, August 25th, Roche Holding Ltd. (VTX:ROG) (OTCMKTS:RHHBY) announced its fourth acquisition this year by agreeing to buy InterMune Inc (NASDAQ:ITMN) for $8.3 billion, as the Swiss group responds to investor pressure to put more of its cash to use.

With the boards of both the companies agreeing to the deal, the acquisition is expected to close by the end of the year.

Biggest in five years

The all-cash transaction would be Roche Holding Ltd. (VTX:ROG) (OTCMKTS:RHHBY)’s biggest acquisition in five years. In 2009, the pharma giant acquired the 44% of another US-based Genentech Inc. for about $46.8 billion.

InterMune Inc (NASDAQ:ITMN) is...