=Spark Therapeutics (ONCE) to be acquired by Roche (RHHBY) for $114.50 per share

Update 17 Dec 2019: Roche to complete $4.3 billion Spark deal as regulators give all clear: ZURICH/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Roche plans to complete its $4.3 billion takeover of gene therapy specialist Spark Therapeutics on Tuesday after U.S. and British authorities ruled the deal would not hurt competition in hemophilia A treatment.

  

• Spark Therapeutics (ONCE) announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement for Roche (RHHBY) to fully acquire Spark Therapeutics at a price of $114.50 per share in an all-cash transaction. This corresponds to a total equity value of approximately $4.8 billion on a fully diluted basis, inclusive of approximately $500 million of projected net cash expected at close. The per share price represents a premium of 122% to Spark's closing price on Feb. 22, 2019. The merger agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of both Spark and Roche.
• Under the terms of the merger agreement, Roche will promptly commence a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Spark's common stock, and Spark will file a recommendation statement containing the unanimous recommendation of the Spark board that Spark shareholders tender their shares to Roche.
• The closing of the transaction is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2019.

=Affimed N.V. (AFMD) announces collaboration with Genentech (RHHBY)

The company was formerly known as Affimed Therapeutics B.V. and changed its name to Affimed N.V. in October 2014.

• Founded in 2000
• Headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany.
• affimed.com
• Sector: Healthcare
• Industry: Biotechnology
• Full Time Employees: 80

Affimed Therapeutics announces collaboration with Genentech (RHHBY) to develop novel NK cell engager-based immunotherapeutics for multiple cancer targets; will receive $96M upfront and committed funding and is eligible for up to an additional $5.0B including milestone payments, and royalties on sales 

• Co entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (RHHBY), to develop and commercialize novel NK cell engager-based immunotherapeutics to treat multiple cancers.
• Affimed will apply its proprietary Redirected Optimized Cell Killing (ROCK) platform, which enables the generation of both NK cell and T cell-engaging antibodies, to discover and advance innate immune cell engager-based immunotherapeutics of interest to Genentech. The collaboration includes candidate products generated from Affimed's ROCK platform and multiple undisclosed solid and hematologic tumor targets. Affimed and Genentech will collaborate on the discovery, early research and late-stage research phases. Genentech will be responsible for clinical development and commercialization worldwide.
• Affimed will receive $96 million in an initial upfront payment and other near-term committed funding. Affimed may be eligible to receive up to an additional $5.0 billion over time, including payments upon achievement of specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones, and royalties on sales.