It will also lose its listing on the London Stock Exchange after Alliance Pharma agreed to buy the company in an all-cash deal valued at 349.7 million pounds ($427 million).
The company’s board announced Friday that it intends to unanimously recommend shareholders vote in favor of the acquisition by DBAY Advisors and Edmond de Rothschild’s ERES IV fund.
Under the terms of the deal, Alliance shareholders will receive 62.5p for each share they own, a 41% premium to the company’s Thursday closing price of 44.35p.
Alliance has been listed on the London Alternative Investment Market (AIM) since 2003 and markets and distributes consumer healthcare and prescription products in more than 100 countries. The company employs approximately 285 people in offices across Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific.
The company has been undergoing a strategic review of its business since Nick Sedgwick replaced Peter Butterfield as CEO in May 2024.
Alliance’s board of directors said it believes in the company’s long-term prospects, but also recognizes that implementing the new strategic plan will take significant time and investment. Additionally, there are many uncertainties regarding the realization of plans, some of which are beyond our control.
DBAY said on Friday that while supporting Alliance’s management team, it hopes the company will carry out various initiatives in parallel with new investments and acquisitions.
“It has become clear to DBAY that the Alliance needs time away from the public markets to enable the Alliance to fully implement these initiatives within a reasonable period of time,” the asset manager said. said.
The deal is the latest in a series of acquisitions by private equity and other companies that are shrinking the UK stock market.
According to Peel Hunt, in 2024 one in 20 of all UK listed companies will have been exposed to a public offering. The investment bank said companies listed on London’s AIM were particularly at risk of takeovers due to a lack of liquidity, weak valuations and reduced ability to access capital markets.
DBAY began acquiring Alliance shares in December 2022. The Isle of Man-based investment firm already owns a 28% stake in the healthcare company. Founded in 2011 by Alex Piuszko and Saki Liffner.
DBAY’s partner in the transaction is Edmond de Rothschild, a Geneva-based private bank and asset management company run by Ariane de Rothschild. The company was founded in 1953 and announced that it had over $177 billion in assets under management as of the end of 2023.