Baker McKenzie Advises Araris Biotech on its USD 1.14 Billion Acquisition by Taiho Pharmaceutical

Baker McKenzie advised Araris Biotech AG ("Araris Biotech"), a Swiss biotechnology company developing next-generation antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), on entering into a share purchase agreement with Japan-based Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Taiho Pharmaceutical"), pursuant to which Taiho Pharmaceutical will fully acquire Araris Biotech. 

The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2025 and follows a research collaboration between the two companies that started in November 2023. Under the terms of the share purchase agreement, Taiho Pharmaceutical will pay USD 400 million at closing, with the potential for additional milestone payments of up to USD 740 million, as the company reaches unicorn status.

Baker McKenzie Switzerland advised Araris Biotech and its shareholders on all Swiss tax matters related to this transaction. 

The team was led by Tax Partner Susanne Liebel-Kotz and consisted of Pascale Daniela Schwizer (associate) and Joane Gautschi (trainee lawyer).