ZS Pharma Confirms In Preliminary Talks With Actelion On Strategic Transaction

(RTTNews) - ZS Pharma (ZSPH) confirmed Thursday that it has participated in preliminary discussions with Actelion Ltd. (ALIOF.PK) regarding a potential strategic transaction.

ZSPH closed Thursday trading at $74.73, up $16.54 or 28.42%. In after hours, the stock further gained $3.55 or 4.75%.

ZS Pharma said it regularly and routinely explores opportunities with various strategic partners and will continue to do so. These discussions may or may not lead to any transaction. ZS Pharma does not intend to comment further on market speculation or disclose any developments unless and until it otherwise deems further disclosure is appropriate or required.

Separately, Actelion confirmed that it has initiated preliminary discussions with ZS Pharma Inc. without any commitment on either party.

Actelion said it does not intend to make any further comments at this time.

Earlier today, Bloomberg reported that Actelion made a preliminary offer last month to buy ZS Pharma in a deal that would value the U.S. company at about $2.5 billion.