Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE: VRX) announced that its affiliate has entered into a definitive agreement to sell all of the outstanding equity interests in Dendreon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to the Sanpower Group Co., Ltd., one of the largest privately owned conglomerates in China. Under the terms of the transaction, Valeant will receive cash consideration of $819.9 million at completion.

Valeant bought Dendreon in 2015 via a "stalking horse bid" in a sales process conducted under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code for a purchase price of $415 million, net of cash received.

Dendreon's first and only commercialized product is Provenge®, an autologous cellular immunotherapy (vaccine) for prostate cancer treatment approved by the FDA in April 2010.

"With this sale, we are better aligning our product portfolio with Valeant's new operating strategy by exiting the urological oncology business, which is one of our non-core assets," said Valeant CEO Joseph C. Papa. "We are pleased to take this step forward in our divestiture program and are continuing to evaluate transactions to simplify our business and strengthen our balance sheet."

Valeant will use proceeds from the sale of Dendreon to permanently repay term loan debt under its Senior Secured Credit Facility. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2017, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.

Centerview Partners served as financial advisor to Valeant and Hogan Lovells US LLP represented Valeant in connection with this transaction. DLA Piper LLP (US) and DLA Piper UK LLP acted as legal advisor to the Sanpower Group.

Source: http://www.streetinsider.com/dr/news.php?id=12409896&gfv=1