Seoul: Samsung Biologics has announced that it will acquire Switzerland-based PolyPeptide Group in an all-cash deal worth approximately $1.8 billion (1.46 billion Swiss francs), marking the largest merger and acquisition in South Korea’s biopharmaceutical sector.
The South Korean biotechnology company has offered 44.31 Swiss francs per share, representing a 6.1 per cent premium over PolyPeptide’s closing share price. The transaction is expected to begin through a tender offer by the end of August and conclude by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.
Samsung Biologics said the acquisition will significantly expand its capabilities in peptide-based therapeutics, a rapidly growing segment driven by increasing demand for obesity and diabetes treatments, including GLP-1 medicines. The deal will also strengthen the company’s contract development and manufacturing business by adding PolyPeptide’s global production network.
PolyPeptide operates manufacturing facilities across Sweden, Belgium, France, the United States, and India, giving Samsung a broader international footprint in peptide drug production. The Swiss company’s board has unanimously recommended that shareholders accept the offer. Its largest shareholder, Draupnir Holding, which owns about 55.6 per cent of the company, has also agreed to tender its shares.
Following the completion of the transaction, Samsung Biologics intends to acquire the remaining minority shares and delist PolyPeptide from the SIX Swiss Exchange, making it a wholly owned subsidiary. The acquisition reflects Samsung’s strategy to strengthen its position in the fast-growing global biopharmaceutical manufacturing market.
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