Novartis May Have Buyer(s) For Its Sandoz Unit - Report

According to a German newspaper, Swedish-based investment group EQT and the Struengmann family of Germany are considering a joint move to purchase the Novartis AG's NVS generics outfit, Sandoz, for $21.6 billion.

• The price would make it the largest pharma deal of the year. 
• Related: Novartis Mulls Strategic Options For Sandoz, Reaffirms FY21 Outlook.
• EQT and the Struengmanns, who provided the investment power behind BioNTech SE BNTX, have attracted interest from other private equity investors to join the group, the outlet reported.
• Reuters points out that the Struengmann twins have done business with Novartis in the past, selling a generics maker, Hexal, to the company in 2005.
• Similar divestitures have been made by other pharmaceutical giants designed to focus on the business of developing drugs.
• Merck & Co Inc MRK has created Organon & Co OGN. Pfizer Inc PFE merged its generics maker, Upjohn, with Mylan, creating Viatris Inc VTRS. 
• Most recently, Johnson & Johnson JNJ revealed it was establishing a new publicly-traded company to handle its consumer health business. 
• Novartis was nearing the sale of a portion of its generics business to Aurobindo of India for $1 billion before the deal fell through after an antitrust review setback with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
• Also See: Novartis Has $21B From Roche Stake Sale - Which Company Is On Its M&A Radar?
• Price Action: NVS shares are up 0.97% at $82.11 during the premarket session on the last check Tuesday.