Shire To Acquire NPS Pharmaceuticals for $5.2 Billion

Shire PLC SHPG has agreed to acquire NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. NPSP for $5.2 billion or $46 a share. Shire wanted to add more rare disease drugs to their portfolio.

This is a 38 percent premium to the average price of NPS stock over the last 45 days and about a 10 percent premium to Friday's close ($41.91).

This acquisition comes after many rumors that Shire was interested.

In June 2014, shares of NPS spiked on a report that Shire was interested in buying the company. NPS stated that it hadn't had any talks with Shire. Rumors heated up once again last month.

On January 5, the Wall Street Journal reported that NPS hired Goldman Sachs to gauge if other companies were interested in an acquisition.

The acquisition comes ahead of NPS' PDUFA decision for Natpara on January 24.

Both companies are scheduled to present at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference this week.

This acquisition comes after the AbbVie Inc ABBV and Shire acquisition talks fell through last year. As part of the breakup, Shire received $1.6 billion.

Many analysts think that Shire may be looking to acquire more companies this year.