Slaughter and May is advising Shire plc on the acquisition financing and competition aspects of its acquisition of ViroPharma Incorporated, a leading rare disease company, for approximately US$4.2 billion.

Shire, announced on 11 November 2013, that it had secured a US$2.6 billion, fully underwritten short term bank facility which in addition to its existing facilities will enable it to finance the acquisition, pay fees and expenses relating to the acquisition and repay Shire's existing US$1.1 billion convertible bond at its maturity in 2014, if required.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is advising on the acquisition which is governed by U.S law.

CONTACTS

Financing: Richard Levitt (partner), Akshay Kundaiker (associate); Competition: Claire Jeffs (partner), Natalie Cooksey (associate)