Takeda's $62 billion Shire bid faces November 6 EU antitrust deadline

[September 29, 2018]  BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators will decide by Nov. 6 whether to allow Japanese drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical's <4502.T> $62-billion takeover of London-listed Shire Plc <SHP.L>, the European Commission said on Friday.

Shire branding is seen outside their offices in Dublin, Ireland, April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo

The EU competition enforcer can give the green light with or without demanding concessions or open a four-month long investigation if it has serious concerns.

The deal, the largest overseas acquisition by a Japanese company, would elevate the combined company into the list of the top 10 global drugmakers. It would be a leader in gastroenterology, neuroscience, oncology, rare diseases and blood-derived therapies used for serious conditions such as haemophilia.

Authorities in the United States, China and Brazil have already given unconditional approvals for the deal.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

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