Takeda boss to meet US investors ahead of potential £35bn Shire bid

Takeda CEO Christophe Weber is trying to persuade investors an expensive swoop for rival Shire is worthwhile - REUTERS

The chief of the Japanese drug giant preparing a £35bn bid for FTSE 100 drugmaker Shire is to fly to the US this week as part of an international charm offensive to persuade investors to back the deal.

Christophe Weber, the French boss of Takeda, is understood to be lining up meetings with its major holders ahead of making a potential offer for Shire. Its top five investors include US-based Blackrock, Capital Group and JP Morgan. City sources told The Sunday Telegraph that Takeda was understood to be considering splitting Shire and selling its neuroscience division in ­order to help finance the deal.

Concerns have been raised by analysts that Takeda will struggle to fund the takeover, as Shire is worth £7bn more than the Japanese group.

Shire: the humble start-up that became a giant

Analysts said selling Shire’s neuroscience division – including its lucrative portfolio of ADHD drugs – may make sense as the two companies’ units were focused in different therapy ­areas. Takeda would be left with Shire’s larger and higher margin rare diseases business.

Reports in Japan this week said Takeda had approached lenders for tens of billions of dollars of funding to help pay for a swoop.

If Takeda buys Shire the Osaka-based firm would also have to take on the Irish group’s existing debts, which stand at £19bn. Its own debt was ramped up by the takeover of ARIAD Pharmaceuticals last year. Takeda ­declined to comment.