GlaxoSmithKline CFO Says Multibillion-Dollar M&A Not "on the Cards"

GlaxoSmithKline PLC, the U.K.’s largest drugmaker, isn’t considering large-scale acquisitions, Chief Financial Officer Simon Dingemans said. “Our emerging-markets business made a number of acquisitions two or three years ago,” Dingemans said in an interview today with Betty Liu on Bloomberg Television’s “In the Loop.” “We’re very comfortable with the footprint we have. If we do any M&A it’s going to be relatively small bolt-ons and in-fills.” Dingemans was responding to a questions about news reports that Glaxo and other companies are considering acquiring Brazilian drugmaker Ache Laboratorios Farmaceuticos SA. Glaxo is seeking to capture more growth in emerging markets. The company increased its stake in an Indian consumer-health subsidiary to 73 percent from 43 percent, and also is buying shares in its Nigerian unit. Closely held Ache had 2011 sales of about $1.5 billion, according to the company’s website. Drug companies in emerging markets are priced in the stock market at about 2.45 times sales, based on the median multiple in data compiled by Bloomberg. At that multiple, the Brazilian company would be valued at about $3.7 billion.