Takeda has agreed to sell it's Japanese consumer healthcare unit to Blackstone for $2.3 billion. Takeda is a healthcare company that makes over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and is also currently working on a cure for COVID-19. The deal is Blackstone’s second acquisition in Japan’s healthcare sector after acquiring AYUMI Pharmaceuticals last year.
Ever since the acquisition of Shire for $59 billion, Takeda has been trying to reduce it's leverage and refocus on specialized areas such as disorders of digestive system, rare diseases, plasma therapy, and the prevention of and treatment of cancer. To do so, it has chosen to sell off a number of non-core businesses.
Takeda also said in a statement that Blackstone plans to develop the business and retain all the workers. The transaction is supposed to close by March 31.